#tricolor was. Um............... yeah

[zephyrfuse]

i was absolutely not a part of the past slay part of this fest my current win/loss ratio is like 14/36 i did my part to cripple my team as much as i ever have before honestly and i'm proud of my dog shit contribution

[ashlelia]

hi @andyyolk! I'm your secret santa for the #souyosecretsanta2024 ! I hope you are having a wonderful holiday season and that this gift adds to it!

🎄 title: fill this night 🎄 author: ashlelia 🎄 rating: T 🎄 summary: Yu and Yosuke decorate a Christmas tree for Nanako. (~1900 words) 🎄 AO3 link

12.23.20XX

Yosuke's boots crunch through freshly fallen snow as he reaches the entrance of the Dojima residence. Finally. His hands are full of Junes brand shopping bags, so he carefully knocks at the door with the tip of his boot and bounces on his toes as he waits.

He should've worn gloves.

And maybe that scarf Kanji made.

Yeah, he thinks, both of those would be good right now.

It's too bad he didn’t think of it before he left; the fuzzy faux fur lining of his jacket isn't cutting anymore after being dampened by snowflakes.

Yosuke is hit with a welcome gust of warm air when the door rattles open a few moments later. Yu’s smile right behind it, easy and fond, is welcome too. He's grateful for both.

“Come in, it's cold,” Yu says, reaching to take the bags in Yosuke's hands.

Yosuke kicks as much snow off of his boots as he can before he steps inside and closes the door behind him. A shiver tickles the back of his neck as he responds, “Pfft, you're telling me! I'm gonna be thawing out for the next freaking hour.”

“It's not that bad.” Chuckling, Yu plops the bags down on the kitchen table. A string of tricolor tinsel garland, red, green, and silver, spills out of one of them. “You brought more decorations?”

Off comes Yosuke's boots. Then his coat. “Yeah, so we can make the tree really cool and fancy for Nanako-chan, you know?”

“Mmm.” Yu nods. He takes a better look at the contents of the bags. There's an assortment of round ornaments in every color of the Christmas season – some small and glittery, others shiny and big enough to cover his palm; more garlands; half a box of peppermint candy canes; a large, sparkling silver star; and a hastily-bundled length of multicolored stringed lights. The lights partially uncoil the instant Yu picks them up. “These look expensive.”

“They're not,” Yosuke says, moving to join Yu at the dining table. He sidles close, shoulder to shoulder, helping himself to Yu's body heat as he takes over the short work of unbagging. “Well, I mean, they probably are, but they're what's left after decorating the tree at work.”

Yosuke then looks up at Yu, somewhat bashfully. “I, um, didn't think you'd mind too much where I got them since they're nice.”

“You're right, I don't,” Yu confirms. He gives Yosuke a quick, chaste peck on the cheek and another one of those secret, tender smiles. “Thank you, Yosuke.”

The kiss is barely anything, yet Yosuke's face becomes warm and tingly in the wake of it. He's still getting used to this… thing between them and the affection that comes with it. Yosuke's stomach does some kind of pleasantly weird shimmy too, amplifying his bashfulness as he says, “You don't have to thank me, partner. Besides,” he adds before Yu can deflect, “she's basically my little sister now too, right?”

Yosuke's sentiment earns him a wider smile from Yu and pride blossoms in his chest. Yu’s expression is possibly the brightest one since everything with Nanako began weeks ago; Yosuke's simply happy to be the one who helped make it so – with the truth, no less.

(Because, truthfully, Yosuke adopted Nanako the moment ‘whoa, Junes? I love Junes!’ squeaked out of her mouth. He was charmed; what else can he say?)

Yu drops another quick kiss on Yosuke's cheek, closer to the corner of his mouth, and says, “Really, Yosuke. Thank you.”

Fighting his blush back would be impossible, so Yosuke doesn't try to. Instead, he grabs a heap of garland.

“So, what do you say we get started, huh?”

  *

The artificial Christmas tree Yu digs out of Dojima's storage closet is much larger than Yosuke expects it to be. The placement of it partially obscures the living room TV and, although stored in pieces, it’s taller than both he and Yu once they snap the parts together, fluff it out, and make it look something like a real tree again.

Yosuke stands back to assess it while Yu crouches, making minor adjustments to the bottom-most branches.

“Looks pretty good already. Bet all the ornaments’ll fit,” he says, eyeing the tree from bottom to top. “Might need a stool to put the star up, though.”

Yu stands abruptly, pushing his sweater sleeves up to his elbows. “Oh! I think Uncle has one. Let me get it.”

Yet before he can whoosh past, Yosuke grabs Yu's wrist. “Wait a minute, we have to put the other stuff up! The star goes up last, you know?”

“It does?” Yu pauses thoughtfully. “I… didn't know that.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

As he glances over to the tree they've just put up, the quizzical expression on Yu's face fades. It becomes something soft, forlorn, and – for just a second – far away. “I've never really decorated a Christmas tree before. My parents don't like it.”

“Dude, what!?” Yosuke nearly shrieks in disbelief. He can't possibly have heard Yu correctly. He tugs on Yu’s wrist to make him turn back to him; Yu does but avoids meeting his gaze directly. “Your parents don't celebrate Christmas?”

“They kind of do,” Yu says quietly. “I get gifts. Clothes. Books. Things like that.”

Looking at everything but Yosuke, Yu punctuates his statement with a shrug. The downshift in his mood is palpable and Yosuke frowns, mentally giving himself a swift kick in the ass for his outburst.

They've talked about Yu's parents before, of course, but only in vague terms and short, clipped sentences. Yeses and nos; maybes and sometimes – hard-won answers, all pulled like teeth. It didn't take much for Yosuke to get the hint from their conversations that the topic is a touchy one, so even though he wants to know more about Yu's life, his pre-Inaba years, he resists the recurring urge to pry.

He just can't help his own surprise sometimes.

The Narukamis are weird, to say the least.

“Hey, well, at least I know what not to get you for Christmas next year,” Yosuke replies with a wink, pivoting into damage control mode. Time for a distraction. He steps away from Yu towards the sofa now cushioning their mass of ornaments, scoops up a few of them, and offers them to Yu. “Right or left side?”

Accepting Yosuke's offer, Yu makes a contemplative noise. He stares at the blue and silver baubles in his hands, at his distorted reflection in them. Ultimately, blandly, he says, “You pick.”

“C’mon, partner, I asked you first! Help a guy out here,” Yosuke mock-complains. He folds his arms over his chest, adding a dramatic sigh and pout.

It's super effective!

“Okay, okay,” Yu answers. The renewed smile tugging at his lips is small yet contagious, compelling Yosuke to mirror it back. “Left side.”

Yosuke's grin widens and he winks again. “Got it, right side it is.”

Yet, in mere moments, they fall into an easy, tranquil rhythm that has nothing to do with ‘sides,’ and everything to do with ‘vibes’; Yosuke winds up not hanging a single ornament himself. Instead, he lets Yu pick where each one goes, simply handing over new ones as he's asked for them.

For a few minutes, he simply watches his partner dedicate the same quiet focus to the Christmas tree’s decor as he does to everything else. From top to bottom, each bauble Yu hangs is mindfully and gently placed, and double-checked for security. None of them break, which is better than Yosuke's record – he shattered two before he even made it out of Junes.

Once the final ornament goes up, looped over a middling branch, Yu moves away and over to Yosuke's side. With a hand on his hip, he asks,

“What do you think?”

Yosuke looks up from checking his messages – and worrying about the fact that Chie’s settled on bringing cake for Nanako tomorrow – to give his opinion.

Yu's design is a tidy, simple one, with ornaments of like colours grouped in alternating rows of red, blue, green, and silver. Hardly any of the Christmas tree itself is visible beyond the clusters of ornaments; it's almost perfect as-is.

“Wow, partner, I'm impressed,” Yosuke says, folding his arms over his chest. He shoots Yu a playfully skeptical look. “You sure you've never decorated a tree before?”

“I'm sure… but I'm glad you like it,” Yu says, still wearing that small, pleased smile. Then, in a display of uncharacteristic shyness, he continues with, “tell me what comes next?”

Yu's eyes, voice, and statement all radiate a soft sincerity �� and vulnerability – that makes Yosuke’s heart miss a beat. Who else in Inaba knows that Yu has never done something so simple as decorating a Christmas tree? Probably no one.

Mildly flustered, Yosuke turns in a full circle before actually stopping in the direction of the remaining decorations.

“Um, well.” Scanning what's left, he reaches for the heap of Christmas lights. “These, let's do these.”

With a nod of agreement, Yu takes them when given. The section that unraveled earlier turns out to be the only untangled portion of the bundle; the rest is knotted up like someone did it on purpose.

Angrily.

Yosuke grumbles the entire time – pretty sure these weren't like this earlier, what the heck? – it takes to detangle them, which is twice as long as it takes to neatly spiral the lights around the tree. And three times as long as it takes to add the sparkly garland.

But once that's done, and there's nothing left but candy canes (tossed aside) and the star to top the tree, Yu disappears to retrieve the necessary, aforementioned stool. As he places the stool and steps on it, steadying himself, he finds himself chuckling again at Yosuke's over-the-top cheer of, alright, partner, moment of truth!

Yu also finds that the stool doesn't give him quite enough height to reach the top of the tree. In hindsight, it's obvious that it was designed and purchased for Nanako – but since it wobbles some as he pushes up onto his tiptoes, maybe they should get a better one?

He thinks about that while he arranges the star on the tree, making sure the branch fits snugly inside the stem. He catches Yosuke hunting for an unused electrical outlet when he steps down but Yu already knows there isn't one, so as he sets the stool aside, he says, “you can unplug the TV for now, it's alright.”

“You sure?”

Yosuke pops upright to look at him; there's a faint look of concern on his face. The house will be quiet without the TV. For the second time today, Yu answers, “I'm sure.”

“Okay.”

Yosuke swaps the plugs and then backs away; once again, he and Yu stand in front of the Christmas tree to survey it in full. Plugged in, the Christmas lights twinkle and flicker as they come alive. Colour scatters over the ceiling and the floor and the room becomes cozier, and warmer, in their wake.

The Dojima house feels like a home again.

“Do you think she'll like it?” Yu asks softly, glancing up at the star topper.

“Like it?” Yosuke bumps their shoulders together, following Yu's gaze. “Dude, she's gonna love it, promise. It's great.”

“Thanks to you.”

Yosuke's only a millisecond away from downplaying the compliment when Yu's hand closes loosely around his own. The gesture makes him look over to Yu, whose smile and pink cheeks are easy to see, even from the side. Rethinking his response, Yosuke laces their fingers together and turns back to the glittering tree they decorated – together.

“You're welcome, partner.”

[borisbubbles]

Eurovision 2023: #20 - #19

20. AZERBAIJAN TuranTuralX - "Tell me more" 34th place

Decade Ranking: 58/116 [Above Achille, below Anxela]

lmfao, the twins made my top 20?! I mean, yeah 2023. Of course they made my top 20. [AlexaVoice] PLEASE LEAVE A VOICE MESSAGE WITH YOUR COMPLAINT FOR VERTICAL CLASSIFICATION IN THE COMMENTS BELOW. [/AlexaVoice]

Now here's an entry that serves as a physical embodiment of the "Presence That Was Liked". Yeah it was mid, but a pleasant mid. The twins were never leaving the semifinal alive. They were always going to be the sacrificial lambs of the newly invented "No Jurors During Semi's rule" which specifically targeted Azerbaijan (and... props to Azer for accepting their fate? lol) Turan and Tural were never being more than passengers along for a ride, which they took to heart.

"Tell me more" was all it needed to be. An inconspicuous NQ that was still cute and endearing in its own sort of way. The dreamy and drawly vibe

The imitation 70s aesthetic that convincingly sells the 90s softrock.

Add in a rap verse during minute one, a couple of fashionable scarfs, good camera cuts,...

Yeah "Tell me more" had zero televote appeal (this 100% dies even with juries being in), but as an entry it's refreshingly unpretentious and especially from Azerbaijan, wtf? Usually Azer pick some shitty Swedish pop track and force it on a conventionally attractive jazz muppet who then can't be bothered to do preparties or interviews. This year, their rep was a pair of homely deer-in-headlight twinkbeasts operating under a myspace name who were actually happy to be there and actively mingled with the fans. There some delicious irony and melodramatic twang to be found in the knowledge that by effectively throwing their 2023 qualification, Azer have shown more respect to the contest than they'd ever done before.

--------------------------------------------

19. FRANCE La Zarra - "Évidemment" 16th place

Decade ranking: 56/116 [Above Anxela, below El Diablo]

Yes I know what you're here for;

But you'll have to wait because I am here to rate the performance first. Yep, slightly ahead of the MySpace Twinks on my list seems just about right for a La Zarra. "Évidemment" represent the other side of "mid", the one where the promise is large and the delivery not quite as large. As a song "Évidemment" was kind of a blueballer: Sure, it had a lot of poise, flair, drama, a wee bit of camp and yet...barely any substance. It was The French Entry, like that was its entire identity, almost to a point of parody. And well, France competes every year and is usually better than "LES POISSONS LES POISSONS HI HI HI HÔN HÔN HÔN". donc, pleurez-moi une rivière de pute. I'm having a laugh but seriously, not picking a lane between serious attempt and self-deprecating satire that was the difference between a sixth place and a sixteenth place.

Still, I at first thought France were headed towards a disastrous bottom five result, especially after that rehearsal clip implied LaZarra was on the same Vocal Rest Tonics as Mae Muller. I WAS GONNA BE PROVEN RIGHT AND VINDICATED!!! and well, I was but not about her. (ty Blanca Paloma, we'll rank you soon enough)

When it mattered most, La Zarra got it together, and NAILED that epic big note.

No complaints from me about that live. It was a good live and did what it needed to do. I like it when the headliners deliver what they're supposed to (see also: Azer delivering a pleasant NQ) because it makes the show better overall. Obviously that doesn't erase the fact that (1) the song was mid as fuck (2) the staging was daft at best. ("MON DIEUX I WEAR HAUTE COUTURE, ACT LIKE A DIVA, AM THE EIFFEL TOWER, SOUND LIKE PIAF, LOOK THERE'S A TRICOLORE I AM SOOOO FRENCH!!" um no ur not, ur from Montréal stfu).

Okay so now we address this:

Sure, an uproarious voting moment and it was sooooo stank, but was it fun stank? 🤔 idk.

On one hand, LMFAO WHAT AN ENTITLED FUCKING SOW. 😍😍😍😍😍. The Xwitter trolls immediately began spinning their fanfictions all "WELL ACTUALLY what she did was a secret gesture of respect in Maghrebian cultures" like bitch, she's (1) a QUEBECOIS (2) who cosplayed as the Eiffel Tower and a disco ball unironically, how hinged do you think she is? Her gesture definitely was the sort of melodramatic Egomaniac reaction I'd expect from someone who deliberately caused a pre-show stir by posting an Insta Story all "It's getting to me!!! I'm QUITTING 😭😭 // Cigarettes: "Eurovision?! 😨" // La Zarra: ".... non i meant the gluten, mdrrrr!!!!! 😆". So yes, the moment itself was pretty funnay 2 me, esp since she got twice points I thought's she'd get.

On the other hand, um take a seat you entitled fucking sow. There is serving cunt and then there is straight up being a cunt. The difference is that you have to earn your glamourcunt label and you, madame, were always in "Good but not Great" territory. Be grateful there were any scraps left for you after Käärijä and Loreen gobbled.

In conclusion, lmfao i kinda dislike her as a person (but better she show the world how rude and misguided she is after losing than after getting a top ten) and I genuinely enjoy thinking about her messiness more than listening to her music. 🙂 (so I guess that makes her Taylor Swift.)

Besides, around 16th is where France usually ends up at anyway, so I think they got precisely what they were aiming for, GJ France. 🙂 Now let's not think about this country until the end of March, when it becomes semi-important for me to remember what their entrant's (who?) song (what?) sounds like again.

THE RANKING

[totaldramafan-lauri]

Ruler reached....

OK! So....my Tricolor binge! It wasn’t AS bad as I thought it’d be at first. I had a good time.....but....here’s the thing.....

I understand WHY mirror match Tricolors exist, I guess....Now that there’s a mode where you’re guaranteed to play them rather than waiting like before, it makes sense why they’d prioritize getting you in games ASAP, even it they’re mirrors. People just wanna play. I get that.....but.....h-here’s the thing.....

I don’t think it’s cool to go outta my way to play these cool things that’re supposed to be the main draw of Splatfests, only to be rewarded with barely any clout from a sizeable number of my matches? I think that’s kinda dumb!? I wanna play Tricolor, but I also wanna help my team consistently, and I shouldn’t have to CHOOSE!

Like I said, it wasn’t ALL mirrors. I did get a few matches against the other teams. It’s just that I don’t like getting, like, four mirrors in a row. Especially since I’ve been playing well today. I don’t like being rewarded with scraps for that. XD

S-sorry for ranting.....I....I just- I’m not sure how cool I am with this. I wish it was possible to get Tricolors from Open, just not guaranteed, like before, and the guaranteed option (with the possibility of giving you mirrors) is just another option for players who just wanna play. I-I dunno if I’m in the minority on that, but.....yeah. That’s just how I feel....

Now, on to how I’ve been doing.....MUCH better than I expected! I played about half-and-half charger and Splatana Wiper, and surprisingly, I got a lotta good matches with my charger! O.O So much for it being bad at this....Um, maybe I just got lucky, but still.....

There’s one thing to note tho: Y’know how players always complained about how hard defending is? Well, now that I’ve had the chance to play a good bit of both positions back to back.....

I officially think defending is more fun than attacking. I’m sorry. I’m scum. XD

I dunno why, but I had a better time defending! I consistently felt more safe and secure doing that, with both weapons, while attacking was more of a crapshoot. Maybe it’s Mako, maybe it’s just my playstyle lending me to feel less pressure with more teammates, maybe it’s just good luck with teams, but yeah, defending got me better results. I think I only won a single-digit number of matches on attacking teams (not counting the times I came second).

But overall, even tho I had too many mirrors, I had a blast for the most part! And even with the mirror problem, I think that’ll be something I’ll get used to. Like....maybe it’ll be better for me to not spend a whole session in Tricolors again? But rather, just a few matches in a row in-between regular matches? It’s a thought.....but I enjoyed binging it today, so no regrets. XD

Maybe I’ll come back one more time before the fest ends, and do some regular matches to make up for lost clout. Depends on how I’m feeling later.

[collecting--stardust]

Top-5 liveries in the MotoGP paddock

Okay so disclaimer, I watched motogp before stopping in 2015 because I went to boarding school. Then I continue watching again in 2020 and has been trying to rewatch all the seasons I've missed since. But the thing is, I have shit memories so I don't really remember the seasons pre 2015 too except for 2011 so yeah, not much old liveries in this list, unfortunately :(

1) 2020 SRT Petronas Yamaha

I'm Malaysian so I may be biased but I really love the green petronas colour on the bike. The black leathers look beautiful too and I love seeing that bike on the parc ferme whenever Franky got on the podium so I have really fond memories with this livery. Hmm, I missed this livery so much :(

2) 2013 Yamaha Sepang test

I stumbled upon this picture a few moments back and like WHAT A SEXY LIVERY!!! Love love the grey black livery it makes it looks mysterious and menacing and just.. seriously what a sexy livery.

3) 2021 Sky VR46 Mugello

I know that sky vr46 has multiple tricolor liveries but last year's mugello is my favourite. I love that when the camera is from the side it looks like it's a green bike but when you look at the other side it's red. It's my first time seeing that livery so it's really cool for me haha

4) 1993 Yamaha Marlboro

So I know of this livery's existence because my twin keeps on talking about how sexy the Marlboro livery on the Ferrari during Michael Schumacher's dominance era. So I just randomly search if there's a Marlboro livery bike and voilà! Sure smoking is bad for you but Marlboro does know how to create one hell of a gorgeous livery huh.

5) 2022 Gresini Racing Misano

I love the livery it gives me a really nostalgic feeling and knowing that it's a tribute to Fausto Gresini makes it more heart warming. BUT. One of the reasons why I find it sexy is because of the leathers.

That shade of blue is so pleasant to see I was gaping when I saw it. I love the leathers so much I was low-key disappointed when they went back with the usual grey suit on the next race hmm

Honorary mention:

2022 Mooney VR46 Misano

Okay so this is a stunning livery but the first time I saw it I was like 🤨. I don't know it's just not my style but I do end up liking it in the end (before I realised it's a cursed livery). Um, that aside, it's on this list because just like the Gresini's special livery, I fucking love the leathers.

I love purple so much and so does blue. Especially that shade of purple and blue. The leathers are so beautiful and just NDHDBSJSBHDBDHDH. I love it so much I stare at this picture for quite some time because how wonderful would that be if there's a livery that use the color scheme of the top colours on the racing suit: white, purple, blue. But it doesn't happen, sadly.

[enbies-and-felonies]

KOTLC peeps!!!

I posted my first KOTLC oneshot about @everyonehasthoughts baby, Simon Foster :D Check it out on my Wattpad @pan-with-pans, or hit on that Keep Reading Button :D

My Name Is.... Simon

tw: internalized transhobia

tw: mild swearing

~~

  Sophie tugged at an eyelash. Today was NOT a good day, and knowing her life, it would probably get worse. Sitting under Calla's panakes tree, with its flowing branches and the sweet smell of its tricolor flowers normally helped calm her, but now...

    She was dirty from helping clean Wynn and Luna after they found a muddy meadow, but she couldn't stand the thought of taking a shower. Angrily, she shoved her hair long out of her face. She wanted to yell. Why did she feel so... so rotten?! She looked down at her form-fitting tunic and felt her stomach heave as she scrubbed her eyes in an effort to keep her frustrated tears from falling.

    She, Biana, and Linh had planned a girls outing for today, so they had had a sleepover and in the morning Biana had done their makeup. They had picked out gorgeous outfits; Linh wearing a dark grey, slim-fitting dress with silver embroidery that looked stunning with her hair, and a pair of leggings decorated with a flame pattern. Biana had chosen a light, flowy sundress with strawberries on it, leaving her arms and shoulders exposed. The light pink contrasted beautifully with her dark skin and hair, and she had even put her hair up with a matching strawberry pin.

    For Sophie Biana had helped pick out a form-fitting white dress with gold trimming. Despite it being pleasing to the eye, it wasn't too flashy and Sophie had liked the way it looked. Biana had said it fit nicely, and showed her curves. At the time Sophie had laughed at the compliment, but now its memory made her stomach churn even more.

    Why why why was she feeling like this???

    Groaning, Sophie curled up into the fetal position. The tenseness didn't fade, but at least with her eyes closed she could focus on the bark cutting into her back and a stone pressing against her hip. It was a better discomfort than the way her stomach felt. It made her want to tear every single eyelash out, the more it hurt the better.

    "Hey... You okay?" It was Keefe, and for some reason that didn't make her feel better.

    "Fine and dandy," She groaned, now grateful for the curtain of hair that covered her face, and therefore her tears.

    "BS." Damn empaths.

    "Maybe I'm not fine, but it doesn't matter anyway because nothing's wrong." She wasn't trying to be difficult, but how else was she supposed to say that she had no idea what was happening?

    "Sophie-" She may have been able to hide the flinch, but he felt the emotional recoil at his words.

    "Foster, please," He tried again, "Let me help you?" An idea niggled at the back of his mind.

    There was a pause, and a blue panakes flower  gently settled onto Sophie's shoulder.

    "Okay," She whispered, "You can try."

~~

    "Okay, so I'm thinking I just say things and feel your reaction to it and then we build off of that, so that then we can pinpoint what's up." The two blondes were sitting on Sophie's bed, cross-legged and with a plate of mallowmelt between them.

    Sophie raised an eyebrow.

    "What?! I didn't have much time to make a plan of attack!" Keefe raised his hands defensively, but a smirk played at the edges of his lips.

    "Well... I did already say yes." In all honesty just being around Keefe and his jokes had already helped. He had poured a bucket of water on her, which had actually helped her get the motivation to take a shower, and then Grady had made some mallowmelt for them as a surprise. His still didn't really like Keefe, but he had a secret fondness for the boy.

    "Will you need my enhancing?"

    Keefe swallowed. "I think it would be better if we didn't make it more... complicated." Sophie didn't exactly know what he meant by that, but she went along.

    "Ready?" She nodded, "Okay.... um... I should have come up with a question before I suggested this." He rubbed the back of his neck ruefully.

    "Wait! I'll just start with some generic questions, so you get comfortable with answering questions, since I know you don't like telling all of your secrets. You ARE the Mysterious Miss Foster after all." A twinge swirled in with her general 'sucky-feelings' and 'gently-amused-anticipation'. Keefe thought it was interesting, but didn't push it just yet.

    "Uh... So your favourite human thing." He needed to figure out some better questions to get to know people.

    "Well, I really miss music, but I do still get to listen to some of it via my iPod. Other than that... probably miss movies the most."

    "Favourite movie, and why?" 

    "Booksmart." There was a swell of happiness at the memory, immediately followed by reservation and hiding. Maybe... disgust? But why would she be disgusted at her favourite movie?

    "Why?"

    "Because the two girls were such close friends, and back then I was so lonely... It was nice to imagine people being so close." It was a good answer, but it didn't match the feelings she was radiating.

    "Sophie," That twinge again, "I can't help you if you don't give me the bare-chested answers. I don't plan on judging you for a movie, so you can be honest. It's okay. I mean, unless its about eating meat, but I could probably forgive you for even that." She smiled, and he grinned at his success.

    "I guess I liked it because..." She tugged an eyelash out.

    Abruptly she jerked her head up, staring into his eyes, and he instinctively brought a hand to his stomach against the churning anxiety and reservation.

    "Keefe."

    "Yeah Foster?"

    "How do- in the lost cities- How do you feel about the lgbtq community."

    Oh damn, did she know?

    "Like, personally or...?"

    "Personally." Her anxiety was the main emotion now, bubbling and swirling in his stomach.

    "I support them, for multiple reasons. And that includes ALL of them." He didn't know if she was trying to get him to say something or if she honestly just wanted to know, but at his words the storm of anxiety calmed slightly.

    "Oh. Okay. I guess I liked it because it showed representation." She was still holding back, but Keefe was too busy recovering from the abrupt onslaught of emotions and then the change in subject.

     "Cool... uh, favourite... Human celebrity??"

    "Rain Dove." There was no hesitation, but afterwards she paused. "I don't- I don't really know much about them, but they seem cool." Them? Nonbinary maybe? The idea burrowed deeper into his mind, but he still didn't put it into words.

    "This one will be more personal, okay?" Keefe waited until after her feelings had settled, not just once she nodded, before he asked, "Why don't you like being called Sophie?"

    Her heart stopped, which probably shouldn't 'technically' count as an emotion, but Keefe still sensed it. Then there was a twist of confusion as she tried to answer.

    "I don't know...?" She wasn't lying or hiding anything this time, but she still pulled at an eyelash and flicked it away.

    "Every time I said Sophie this evening you have flinched. Not always physically, but still. Is it because that was what your human parents named you?" He regarded her as she thought, turning the idea over in her head like a pebble at the beach, before frowning and shaking her head.

    "It's not that..." Her brow furrowed, and she reached her hand up again, this time continuing to tug at her eyelashes even as she pulled three out.

    Keefe took a deep breath, steeling himself for her emotions before taking her hands in his.

    "Foster, have you considered that maybe.. you aren't cis?" He really hoped he wasn't stepping out of line, and that it didn't offend her. What if he was just projecting? What if she didn't support trans people?? What if-

    He cut the thoughts off when he realized that the majority of the panic was from Foster. Her eyes were wide and she pushed away from him, nearly slipping of the bed.

    "What?! I'm not! No, I'm a girl!! I-" Her voice was shrill, but he felt the anxiety get replaced by disgust, and an undercurrent of guilt. She was lying...

    And then she was crying.

    "Keefe what if I'm broken? I don't know what I am. I think I'm a girl?? What else could I be?" She hiccupped, "I've always been a girl. I was *sniff* born a girl and I- I don't want to disappoint anybody and-"

    Keefe hugged her hard. 

    "You are not broken, you have never been broken, and I am so sorry that you might even entertain that possibility. I'm sorry for pushing, and making you uncomfortable, I just wanted you to feel better and I noticed how you never liked 'Sophie' and you didn't like 'miss' and I didn't know what to do!! I'm so sorry Foster." 

    She hugged him back, "I think, I think I just need to be alone for a minute. Can I call you later?" She sniffed.

    "Of course, I'm always here Foss-Boss."

~~~

    Sophie rocked on her bed for a while after Keefe light leaped away. She had already tugged out five more eyelashes, and now she was rocking back and forth.

    Was she not a girl? She had never thought of herself as trans before...

    But now that she thought about it... It made sense with how much she hated makeup, and dresses, and formfitting clothing... So if she wasn't a girl, then who was she?

~~~~

    "Hey Keefe?" The whisper was barely picked up by the imparter, but Keefe still heard it.

    "Yeah?"

    "I... figured some things out."

    "That's great Foster, I'm proud of you." 

    "My name is.... Simon. I think I'm a demiboy."

[thiswasinevitableid]

#7 with Sternclay, for the prompts?

Here you go!  I went NSFW

#7: I’m assigned to write a piece rounding up all the bad press that you, a famous celebrity, have been getting and you show up in my office and demand me to write a retraction and get the ‘real’ story”

Barclay is so excited; he’s going to be spending two weeks on the Dual Mesa set, writing an exclusive behind the scenes story that’s sure to give the magazine a big sales boost. 

“Ah, Barclay, come in.” Ned Chicane, the show’s director, ushers him into his office, “I assume they told you we will be leaving to shoot on location tomorrow?”

“Yes, I, uh, I’m really honored that you chose Q to run your story; your cast is so diverse, it really resonates with our readers.”

Ned waves a hand in faux-humility, “Why create a show with paranormal elements that simply recreates homogeneity? However, my dear boy, you were not chosen by me.”

“I requested it.” Barclay turns as a tall man with dark hair enters the office, and has the sudden urge to hide under the nearest table. The man currently staring him down with bright blue eyes and a mild-yet-clearly displeased expression is Joseph Stern, star of Dual Mesa and subject of a very unflattering article Barclay published a week ago.

“Look, Mr. Stern, I-”

“Quiet.” Stern holds up his hand, “I asked Ned to give Q a boost by granting access to the shoot because I think the magazine does excellent work. I asked for you to give you a chance to prove yourself.”

“Excuse me?” 

“Your writing is quite good, but clearly your research and fact checking needs some work.”

“Just because you don’t like it-”

“I don’t, but that’s not the issue. You published things that are patently false and easily provable as such. For instance, the claim that I got this role by sleeping with the director has two major flaws; one, Ned is not my type.”

“There’s no accounting for poor taste.” Ned says, clearly unbothered, 

“And two, Mr. Mosche would break my fingers if I tried to fuck his husband.” He points to the corner of the room where a large, tattooed man sits reading.

“Right you are.” He looks up long enough to reply. 

“And anyone on set could have told you that. Whatever your sources were, you didn’t do due diligence. So you’ll be trying again.”

“Look, buddy, where do you get off giving me orders?”

“By being the star they’d have the hardest time killing off.”

“And by raising good points.” Ned stands, “asking for a flat retraction would reflect poorly on the show, as it would look as if we were trying to hide the truth. This allows you to correct misconceptions as well as get exclusive looks at next season.”

“You’re literally a paid actor, how the hell do I know you aren’t faking these two weeks?” 

“You won’t be spending all your time with him; you’ll be interviewing others as well and have opportunities to observe him without him knowing.” Ned pats Barclays shoulder, “but he will be responsible for introducing you to the rest of the cast” 

Barclay glances at Stern, who lifts an eyebrow with a smirk.

“So. Have fun with that!” 

-----------------------------------------

The introduction the next day goes as well as trying to light a match in a hurricane. Stern is polite and professional when Barclay arrives, introduces him to the cast and the main crew without mentioning the article. But it’s clear Barclay’s reputation precedes him.

“You really got Joe figured all wrong.” Duck Newton, who plays good-hearted Sheriff Frank Roosevelt on the show, pulls Barclay aside as Stern and co-star Aubrey Little (who plays Lucille, a plucky young woman with a dark past) get ready to shoot. 

“So everyone keeps saying, but I didn’t make that stuff up. It turned up when I researching him.”

“Don’t mean someone else didn’t just pull it out of their ass.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know.” Barclay sighs, rubbing his forehead. 

“Look, all I know is Joe’s been nothin but kind a professional to me. I’d even call him a friend. Know he can come off as intimidatin and rigid sometimes, but he’s a good guy.”

Barclay hears variations of this sentiment over and over during the next two days. It’s part of why he’s currently sitting inside his motel room not far from the main set, eating dinner alone. Indrid, the costume designer had actually invited him to eat with a few members of the crew.  Barclay demurred. If the bulk of the people on set think he’s a jerk, he doubts they’ll be that open to getting to know him. Plus, he’s kind of humiliated at how little actual evidence he can find for the claims against Stern, and doesn’t want to give the other man a chance to gloat. 

There’s a knock on the door, and he opens it to find the last person he expects, or wants, to see. 

“Good evening, Barclay.” Out of costume, Stern almost looks ordinary. There’s still the unfair symmetry of his face, the way he makes jeans and t-shirt look somehow sophisticated. 

“Uh, something you need from me?”

Stern looks past him to his cobbled together dinner; Barclay’s a good cook, but the damn room doesn’t have anything more than a microwave. 

“The chance to buy you an actual dinner.”

Barclay’s about to point out that he’s not eating in the commissary tent because of Stern when the actor adds, “please?”

He grabs his wallet and joins Stern in the still-warm evening air, following him into the few blocks that make up downtown Sagebrush, the former mining town that makes up much of Dual Mesa’s background. He expects them to stop at the Mizpah, the sole fancy hotel and restaurant, but Stern guides him past it and into a kitschy diner. 

They study their menus in silence, the pleather booths squeaking awkwardly whenever one of them moves. 

Barclay orders the burger plate that comes with a slice of pie and Stern, surprisingly goes for an omelette off the all-day breakfast menu.

“Barclay I, well, it’s obvious we got off on the wrong foot. I want you to know that as much as the article upset me, I don’t want you to be miserable while you’re here. No ones going to shun you for what you wrote.”

“Pretty clear they’re all on your side.” Barclay sips his water, meeting Stern’s gaze.

“There don’t need to be sides; you want to write an accurate profile of what it’s like on set, and I want to not have my name dragged through the mud anymore. Those come out to be the same thing.”

“You seem real fucking confident.” Barclay narrows his eyes. 

Stern’s hackles go up, but then he sets his hands on the table with a measured breath, “I don’t pretend to be perfect, Barclay. I’m aware, well aware, of my flaws. But none of those flaws match what you wrote about me. I’m not asking to look untouchable in your piece, I’m asking to look like myself.”

Barclay looks down, spots him nervously shredding his napkin. As he’s thinking, a teenager in a tricolor tank-top approaches the table. 

“Um, sorry, but are you Joseph Stern? The guy who plays agent Hooper?”

Stern smiles, genuine and reassuring, “I am.”

“Could I, uh, get a picture? Like a selfie?” 

“Of course.”

Barclay watches Stern pose with the kid and compliment his pride shirt, before waving goodbye as he scurries back to his table to show his friends the photo.

“That doesn’t bother you?”

Stern shakes his head, “It happens pretty often, especially in town where most people know what I look like in my street clothes, so I’m used to it. Besides, for a lot of these kids there’s more than just the celebrity angle. I can count the number of gay, trans, Asian-american actors on T.V when I was kid with one hand,” He holds up a fist to indicate a zero, “if the price of being that person for kids now is posing for some pictures, I’ll pay it any day.”

Warmth blooms in his chest, the sincerity making him want to trade a truth in return, “Yeah, I remember looking for guys like me and not seeing them. I’d just pick a character I liked and kinda projected. Except the X-Files; then I just had a huge fucking crush on Mulder. Oh, thanks.” He smiles at the waitress as she sets his food down.

“I know that feeling. Somewhere there are pictures of me dressed as him for a Halloween party.”

“Heh, I haven’t dressed up for Halloween in ages.” Barclay munches on a fry, “Last three times I went as Bigfoot. It was an easy costume and kept my face hidden.”

“That’s a shame for the other party-goers.”

Barclay coughs, choking on his fry, as Stern blushes, shoves a piece of toast into his mouth, and changes the topic to books. 

The next day, when Barclay arrives on location and everyone is milling about getting ready to shoot, Stern pats the chair near his own and talks with him until he’s needed on camera. Over the next week, Barclay finds himself next to Stern more often than not, comparing notes on the mystery novels they’ve been passing back and forth, or explaining his job moonlighting as a cookbook editor, or listening to the actor describe his travels to the locations of famous cryptid sightings. What surprises him most is how charming he finds Stern when he’s nowhere near a camera. On set, in character as Special Agent Alex Hooper, he radiates the quiet charm that makes his character so beloved. When they’re alone it’s different, a little less polished and little nerdier, and rather than captivating him it makes Barclay want to protect him.

It turns out that slips of the tongue happen to Stern a lot, at least when he’s around Barclay. “Sec” routinely becomes “sex” and comments about Barclay’s size and strength come often, Stern always sheepish afterwards. As if his attention is something Barclay may not want rather than something he craves like a four-course meal. 

When he starts daydreaming about asking Stern back to his motel room after one of their now-regular dinners together (that Stern always pays for), he knows he’s in trouble. 

“Helllloo?” 

He jumps, chuckles in surprise as Aubrey finishes waving her hand in front of his face, “Sorry, was thinking about dinner.’

“I was saying thanks for coming out while we shoot this. I know how hard it can be to pull away from your ‘muse’.” She wiggles her eyebrows and Barclay feels the blush overrun him. 

“Don’t worry, I’ll let him figure it out on his own.” Aubrey winks, the groans, “aw fuck here he comes.”

Robert Hayes, who plays the recurring role of Hooper’s supervisor, appears in the grove where they’re shooting a scene with just him and Aubrey. Barclay steps out of frame, Aubrey hissing “don’t leave me” as he does.

“I can’t believe Ned is letting Indrid do more alternative looks for you.”

“It works for Lucille.”

“It would work better if she was more conventionally attractive.”

Barclay growls under his breath; how dare this guy talk to his friend that way?

“Well, obviously not, because the audience likes me like this. And they have opinions worth listening too.”

The tension remains throughout the shoot, Barclay tensing every time Hayes opens his mouth. He pretends to be busy when the actor comes over to join him. 

“I’m glad you’re planning on expanding your take-down of Stern.”

“I never said that. I’m writing about the new season of the show.”

“If you want more information about what he’s really like, I’ll be happy to chat with you in private.” The older man pats his shoulder and heads off to his trailer. 

Barclay waits until he’s gone, then goes to look for Ned. He has a hunch the director might like to know about Haye’s offer. 

-------------------------------------------

“...guess Ned put him in his place.” Stern finishes adjusting his tie as the scene sets up, “Sounds like he wanted his character to become the eventual lead, and thought shit-talking me would be the way to go.”

“I’m glad it’s sorted out.” Barclay pretends to be studying his notes so he doesn’t stare too noticeably at Stern’s ass.

“Me too. Thanks, Barclay.” Stern steps onto set, and as Ned begins running through the scene with Stern and the actor playing his (unbeknownst to him) alien lover, Bee, Barclay wishes he’d chosen to be elsewhere. Because this is a sex scene. With Stern. That he will be watching. 

No, damn it, he’s a professional. His butt is staying in this chair.

He makes it through the several takes of the dialogue just fine, starts sweating a little when he kissing begins. Stern’s kisses strike a balance between tender and passionate, perfectly in character, and Barclay would give his right arm to trade places with Bee. 

The action moves to the bed, Stern caressing his lover as they unbutton his shirt.

Okay, now he’d give his right arm and leg to be the one beneath him. 

He reminds himself this airs on TNT, not HBO, so it can’t get much more explicit.

Sterns whole body drips with soft dominance as he pins Bee to the bed, cooing that he’s never seen a finer sight.

Fine, his right arm, leg, and any non-vital organs, he’ll trade them all in a second to hear Stern say that to him, even if it’s only pretend. 

He doesn’t make it through the second take of the bed scene, hurries away as quietly as unobtrusively as he can. There’s no way he can make it to his motel like this, cock pressing so hard against his jeans he’s afraid he’ll end up with a zipper mark. And the bathrooms aren’t exactly private. He does have the key to Stern’s trailer, the actor having given it to him in case he needed somewhere air conditioned to rest from the heat. The trailer that is very nearby.

Does he dare?

The question hardly registers before he’s at the door, unlocking it and ducking inside before anyone sees. He leans against the counter with a groan, unzipping his pants and praying the pre-cum that immediately streaks his hand hasn’t made a noticeable spot in the denim. 

He fumbles around to find some tissues, not wanting to face the humiliation of Stern walking in to find him cleaning cum off of his cabinets (he does actually want that humiliation, and badly, but not without Stern’s consent).

The strokes are hard and fast, his eyes shut so tight he sees static as he imagines Stern behind him, saying how much he wants him, how needy he is, how he’ll take care of him. He grits his teeth, breath leaving him in faint hisses and stifled moans until the temptation to say Stern’s name overwhelms him. 

“Joe, Joe, fuck, Joe.”

“Yes, big guy?” A voice purrs in his ear as hands bracket him against the counter. 

“Fuck” He tries to freeze, finds he’s shaking too much from want and worry to do so. 

“You forgot to lock the door, silly boy. I, however, did not.”

“I’m, I’m sorry, I just needed to, fuck, I didn’t mean for you-”

One hand leaves the counter, strokes the base of his neck and toys with his hair, “what about this suggests I’m angry with this, um, development?”

Barclay whimpers, feet unwilling to turn and look Stern in the eye.

“Should I stop?” The tease goes from his voice.

All he can do is whimper again and shake his head.

The hand leaves his neck, slides down Barclay’s arm to rest atop his hand on the counter. The other takes it’s time snaking down his stomach and hips.

“Poor Barclay, no wonder you had to leave.” His hand nudges Barclay’s aside, takes it’s place around his cock, “you can probably see this thing from space. I’m taking this as a testament to my acting skills.” A laugh as he kisses Barclay’s neck, stroking him slowly. 

“Please don’t say this is acting too.” 

“It’s not.” A kiss to his cheek, a twist along his cock, both making him weak-kneed, “do you know what I was thinking about during that scene? I was thinking about you, what you’d look like if I fucked you. It’s only a quirk of anatomy” he grinds against Barclay’s ass,  “that means I didn’t have a noticeable reaction on camera.”

“Fuck, Joe, more, please I need more of you, all of you, I’m so fucking close.”

The hand on his cock pulls away, “not just yet, big guy. Do you want me to fuck you?”

“Uhuh.” He whines, pushing his hips forward to bump his cock along Stern’s hand. 

A light smack on the ass, “behave. Take everything off and wait for me on the bed.”

“Uh huh.” He turns, only for a hand to firmly grasp his chin and force him to stay eye to eye with Stern.

“Try that response again, big guy, with better manners.”

“Y-yes, s-sir, I, I understand.” 

He’s yanked into a demanding, possessive kiss, Stern stroking his cheek approvingly when he releases him, “Good boy. Is this alright?”

“Yes, yesyes, Joe, please, I love it, don’t stop.”

“I won’t, unless you say so. Promise you will if you need to?”

“I swear, cross my heart, babe, please.”

A loving laugh, coupled with a peck on the lips, “bed.”

Barclay strips so quickly he loses his balance, landing on the bed as he fights to pull off his pants. He tries to calm himself by folding his clothes and setting them aside, certain that if he gets more excited he’ll become the first confirmed case of human combustion.

“Hands and knees, please.” 

“Oh fuck me.” 

Stern is standing by the bed, naked from the waist down save for a strap-on, but still in his special agent clothes from the waist up. 

“Do you like the suit, big guy?”

“Yessir.”

“Good to know. Maybe next time I’ll wear the whole thing while I fuck you. Now” he climbs onto the bed, “try to relax for me.”

A condom-covered finger presses against his ass as soon as he’s on his hands and knees, Stern working him open efficiently yet gently until he’s begging for more. Stern ruffles his hair, and then the toy is pushing into him. It’s narrow, so the stretch isn’t too bad, and for a moment he wonders if it will even do much for him. 

“Let me see, if I just-”

“FUCKfuck”  The curve of the toy finds his prostate.

“That’s part of why this is a favorite of mine, it’s so effective” he thrusts harder, “at finding the right spots.”

“Mhhhmmmmm” Barclay bites the pillow to muffle his moans and growls, wiggles his hips as Stern finds his pace. 

“The other reason I like it…”

“SHIT, babe, baby, ohfuck that’s good.” The toy vibrates, sending heat all through him, “fuck, I’m gonna come in like th-thirty seconds from that.”

“Thirty seconds? Let’s see if you’re right, big guy.”

“GaaAAHfuck, Joe, yeah, yeahyesbabeyes.” He gives up on being quiet as the actor rams into him, drops to his elbows when the intensity makes it impossible to anything other than moan and and grunt and take it. 

“That’s it, good boy, let’s see just how hard you are for me” Stern pants as he reaches around, teasing the head of Barclay’s cock, “perfect, you’re doing wonderfully, fuck” a groan of gratification as Barclay spurts across the bed, “messy, god I love making you come apart, even I might make you clean that with you tongue later.”

“Oh god.” Barclay moans, drool staining the pillow, as Stern loops an arm tightly around his waist and grinds, the toy still bumping and rumbling inside his ass.

“Nnn, Barclay, yes, hold out just a little longer, let me get off on this perfect ass.”

Barclay whines, sensitivity overloading his circuits and driving him wild.

“Just a little more big guy, fuck, fuck, lord almighty I’m close, c’mon, you can handle it, you can be good and take me as long as I need.”

“Yes, yes, wanna take you, wanna be yours, wanna serve you.”

“Fuck” Stern doubles over, hips working frantically, “that’s it, good boy, if you’re in this bed you, fuck, your only job is to please me.”

“Yes” Barclay sobs just as Stern moans into his shoulder. When he pulls out, Barclay flops, limp, onto his side. 

“You with me, baby?” Stern wiggles out of the harness, lays so they’re face to face and cups Barclay’s cheek.

“Mmhmm. Fuck” he pulls Stern into a hug, “I can’t believe we just did that. That was fucking amazing.”

“Didn’t take you for the sub type.”

“Everyone always wants me to be big ‘n dommy. Don’t wanna. Wanna be someone’s good boy.” He’s slurring, mind still a bit foggy. 

“You can be mine. In, um in not just a sex way, although it can be just a sex thing if you want it to.”

“Nope” He cuddles him closer, then it hits him, “you’re asking me to be your boyfriend?”

“Please?”

“Yes. Yes. Yes” He kisses him after each answer, making them both laugh. 

“It won’t fuck up your work?”

“I’ll ask Mama what she thinks, we might need to transfer the rest of the article to Thacker. Uh, maybe this is silly but, uh, can I take you to dinner? My treat?”

Stern kisses him, stars in his eyes and a hundred watt smile on his face, “that sounds perfect, big guy.”

[sushigirlali]

113 from the 200 writing prompts. Reylo or any other pair from SW. :)

Prompt: “Where did all these puppies come from?”

Pairing: Rey x Kylo Ren/Ben Solo [Reylo] [ReyBen]

Continuity: Modern AU

Rating: T+

A/N: I actually laughed out loud when I saw the prompt you picked 😂 Get ready for some fluff!! Thanks, babe!!

Master list –> AO3 | ff.net | Tumblr 

——————

For: @lovethemfiercely

Love: sushigirlali

After Hours

——————

Ring, ring. Ring, ring.

“Oh, come on,” Rey grumbled as her cell phone sounded from the back pocket of her off the rack gray slacks. “Seriously?”

The ringtone was basic, probably factory setting, so the caller was most likely someone from the office.

“It’s Friday for goodness sake!” she complained to no one. “And I’ve already worked my fair share of overtime this week!”

Ring, ring. Ring, ring.

“Dammit.” Juggling her coffee thermos, briefcase, purse, and jacket, Rey briefly debated heading back inside to take the call. It was already well after seven, though, so the idea didn’t thrill her. “You know what? Screw it. I’ll work at home if I have to.”

Hurrying the rest of the way across the deserted parking lot, Rey reached her vehicle a few minutes later. Leaning against the dusty door, she struggled to retrieve her keys from the depths of her enormous handbag withoutdropping anything. Her old Camry didn’t have one of those fancy key fobs, so she had to open the door the old-fashioned way.

“There we go!” Rey exclaimed once she’d succeeded. Using her hip to hold the door open while she unceremoniously dumped her possessions onto the passenger seat, she shut and locked the door behind her.

The ancient flip phone had stopped ringing by now, so she leaned forward and yanked it out of her pocket to check the missed call log. If Hux is trying to get out of doing his own work again, I’ll…

But it wasn’t Hux, it was… “Ben?” she said in disbelief, holding the phone away like it had bit her.

Ben Solo was the boss’ son and a bit of a firebrand in the courtroom. While they had crossed paths several times since she’d come to work for Leia last year, they weren’t exactly friends. Not that I mind, but I didn’t even know he had my number. Why is he calling me?

Having only a cursory knowledge of how the upper-class lived, Ben was a bit of an enigma to her. He was handsome, successful, wealthy, and, somehow, terminally single. Something Leia likes to point out several times a week, I’m told.

In actuality, all she really knew about Ben was that he was an amazing defense attorney who rarely lost a case and that he looked damn fine in a black suit.

“Down girl.” Rey fanned her face, willing herself not to go down that road. Her Ben Solo court room fantasies could wait until tonight. Rightnow, she had a call to make. Punching the recall button before she got distracted again, Rey was surprised when he picked up on the first ring.

“Miss Nimma? Rey?” Ben sounded harried.

“Yes?” she answered cautiously.

“I—I need you,” he stammered. “Can you comeover?”

“You—what?” she replied, nonplused.

“I need your help. I found some—oh shit! Don’tdo that!” he said impatiently.

“Don’t do what?”

“What? Oh, no, not you. It’s these devils I—dammit!” Rey heard a crash in the background.

“Ben! What happened? Are you alright?” she said anxiously.

“I’m fine, I—actually, no. I’m not fine. I’m in wayover my head,” he admitted. “Can you come to my place? Now?”

“I—I suppose,” Rey said hesitantly. “But I don’tknow your address.”

“I can send my chauffeur,” he offered.

“That’s not necessary,” she protested. “I worked late, so I actually just got to my car. Just text me the address and I’ll stopby. For a few minutes, at least.”

“Okay, Rey, whatever you want,” he said easily. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” she said breathily. Clearingher throat, Rey ended the call before she made a fool of herself. “Um, bye, Ben. I’ll see you shortly.”

“Bye, Rey.”

Less than ten seconds later, Ben’s name lit upher phone once again. Logan Circle, huh? Wow, that’s a nice area. Jamming her keys into the ignition, Rey tried not to wonder how Ben’s fancy neighbors would react to seeing her old beater parked out front. 

——————

Ring, ring. Ring, ring.

Ben immediately pushed the release button on the callbox, admitting Rey into his building without a moment’s hesitation. He didn’t know her very well, true, but Ben had observed her enough at work and dinner functions to know that she was a good, considerate person. In fact, she had been the very first person that came to mind when he realized he knew nothing about taking care of small things.

“You’re lucky you’re so cute or I would havetossed the lot of you out on the curb,” he told the tricolor demons who’d been ransacking his home for the last three hours. They stared up at him in a way that blatantly said, “We don’t believe you.”

Looking around at all the destruction, Ben shook his head in amusement, mentally tallying up the cost for repairs. It was time for a new floor and paint job, anyway, I suppose, he sighed.

Ben had purchased and converted the old three-story Edwardian mansion into three separate apartments right after college as a way to get out from under his father’s thumb. Luckily, the venture paid off due to his decision to rent out the bottom floors to friends and the odd tenant on Craig’s List.

In no time at all, Ben had paid down the loan he’d taken out to furnish the improvements, and his father was forced to admit the wisdombehind his investment. We get along a lotbetter now that I don’t live at home, he thought drolly. I wonder if Rey will appreciate all the work I’ve put into—

Knock, knock.

Practically tripping over his large feet to letRey inside, Ben realized his mistake too late. The second he opened the door, half a dozen nosey heads were trying to push their way out of the apartment.

“Where did all these puppies come from?” Reygaped, looking pretty in her closefitting slacks and cobalt blue sweater set.

“What?” Ben said, struck by the light flushrunning across her cheeks. Did she run upthe stairs? To see me? And if that’s the case, is she just worried about me as a college, or something more?

“The dogs,” she motioned to the attentionseeking animals pawing at her feet. “They’re beagles, right?”

“Oh, ah, I think so.” Ben scratched the back of his neck. “I found them in a box about a block away from the house.”

“And you just brought them in?” Rey was givinghim a funny look. She was either pleased with his heroic act or questioning his sanity. It was hard to tell which. “I didn’t think you liked animals.”

Ah. The latter.

“It’s not that I don’t like them, I just never had any growing up,” he shrugged.

“I didn’t either, actually. Not much call forpets at the group home,” she said without heat.

“Right. Well, I’m glad that your experiencethere didn’t have an adverse effect on you.” Shit. Shit, shit, shit! I did not just say that!

“Excuse me?” Rey laughed. “Wow, Ben, that’s some line. I take it you don’t invite women into your home very often. Or at least, that’s the rumor around the office.”

“Hey!”

“What?” she said innocently.

Ben tried to look stern, but almost immediatelycracked under her captivating smile. “Okay, I deserved that,” he chuckled, relieved that she wasn’t upset. Why had they never spoken so candidly before? Her attitude and outlook were beyond refreshing.

“So, are you going to move, or…?”

“Huh?”

“I can’t very well enter the apartment with youand your pups in the way.” Rey made a shooing motion with her dainty hands.

“Right, yeah, sorry,” Ben said sheepishly,scooping up the dogs and carrying them over to the large cardboard box he’d found them in. As soon as he placed them inside, they crowded around their mother, vying for her undivided attention.

“So, why did you call me?” she asked, joining him to watch the sweet scene unfold.

“You’re nice,” he said simply.

“Oh,” she said slowly. “Thanks?”

“I didn’t mean—not that there’s anything wrongwith being nice—but, I didn’t mean that in a bad way,” he said quickly. “It’s just that you’re lovely and kind and I couldn’t think of anyone else who would—”

“Ben,” she laughed, putting an end to his embarrassing ramble, “it’s okay. I can work with nice.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah,” she said shyly. “I think you’re nice too.”

“Thanks,” he grinned. “So, since I don’t know anything about dogs and you don’t know anything about dogs…”

“Yes?”

“Do you want to maybe get some takeout and help me do some research? I understand if you’re tired after working so late—I’ll have a talk with my mother about that, by the way, youwork hard enough as it is—but, I’d love the chance to—mmph!” Ben froze as Rey leaned up on her tiptoes and placed a gentle kiss to his lips.

“Yes,” she said again, with certainty this time. “It’s a date.”

-FIN-

——————

A/N: And by fluff I meant literal and figurative ❤️🐶

[pretty-idol-hell]

PriPara Summer Tour 2017: Osaka-pu!

I went to the Tokyo Live as well two weeks ago but I didn’t feel like talking about it as much. But I will now in comparison haha.

Wrote all of this on my phone last night but held off from posting it because I figured Tumblr wouldn’t do the cut right on mobile. Hopefully it’s not too jumbled.

When I got my ticket I originally thought I might be in the 2nd row. BuT it turns out I am dumb and can’t read because it said second FLOOR haha. But you know, that was good, because it was raised and I could see the whole stage this time. (The floor below was all the same and people were standing so I still probably wouldn’t have been able to see.) In Tokyo I could see like… a small keyhole window of the stage if I stood on my toes. Here the worst I had to deal with was the guy who wore Pikachu ears the entire…. time… but anyway!!!

This one was also better than Tokyo because the middle talk sections were a bit more polished. I feel like they took a few ideas they had then and ran with them.

For example, in Tokyo they teased about how iRis members voice the managers (Shion = Punicorn, Mirei = Chupe, Dorothy = Pitsuji) but this time they actually did a whole segment on them. Chupe was interviewed about what he thought of Osaka-pu, and Reona’s translation included that he wanted to see “the yellow guys over yonder”. (The Minions across the street at Universal Studios Japan oh lord haha.) Punicorn did a perfect impression of eating hot takoyaki. And Pitsuji’s Osaka-themed question was “Express your love for Reona!” The meaning of this was not clear until the Azuki got into an agument with the Pitsuji plushie as Dorothy. Reona: “Wow Dorothy, your Pitsuji impression is so good!”

There was also a totally new segment in Osaka after Yui, Michiru, and Nino introduced the merch. Yui suddenly tells Michiru and Nino to buy time as she runs off the stage. One of them suggests they should do “manzai” (if you don’t know what that is, remember Serenon from Pretty Rhythm) and the crowd is like “YEAH!!!” and then they are like “No it’s not a good idea to do it for real this time.” The way they said this strongly suggested any of the following is likely true:

1.) They actually planned to do manzai.

2.) It went really bad in practice.

3.) They decided never to do it again.

4.) I am totally sure that’s what happened.

So Yui finally comes out again pulling a similar cart she did in the Pokkaido episode filled with a big bag of rice and a blow up bale of hay. Nino in character takes the rice away from Yui. They mention the whole cart was full of rice but it was too heavy to pull so they went with the pool toy. Hahah. So! Yui announces they are giving away free rice to 5 people in the audience, call 5 seat numbers and tell them they can pick it up in the lobby. As far as I know those people got to take home honest to god giant bags of rice.

So about the actual performances.

Wasuta was the opening act both times! In addition to Just Be Yourself they also covered Let’s Go PriPara and Hello Hello Friends. No original songs. They are cute but I don’t have a favorite so I never know what color to use. The one wearing purple said she was from Aichi so I changed to purple though.

Okay sorry I am going to keep referring to the main voice actresses mostly by their character names sorry. I DO know they are real people with lives outside of PriPara, but they were in character for this show. (…also I don’t know their fan nicknames.)

Everyone who was at the Tokyo one did the same songs they did in the afternoon performance in Tokyo. Except for one big change. Non Sugar did not come to Osaka… but instead we got Falulu to conplete Tricolore. So instead of Sugarless Friend we got to hear Mon Chou Chou. And instead of Kono Uta To Mareihi and Jun Amore Ai we got to hear NEO DIMENSION GO AHHHHHHHHHHHH they went right into it from Mon Chou Chou and my mouth dropped. Mirei got to sing her movie song so I should have figured but it took me totally by surprise. (Haha I just realized in writing this that there was one less song so that’s where the Yui rice thing came in probably haha.)

I don’t know what Falulu’s outfit was supposed to be. It was this red and white thing that Falulu the anime character has never worn before. (Maybe it was made for the Christmas Live or something.) Yui’s CR looked even better than I remembered. Her outfit is the only one that really, truely looks just about as good as the arcade haha.

Yui seemed really nervous during her solo though. I don’t remember if she was last time. She’s so good though. Towards the end they threw out balls with signatures on them or something while singing the Idol Time ED, and she like… either threw it to the wrong place or hit someone or someone because she was like “UaWah!” into the mic as Yui during the song IT WAS SO CUTE hahah. I hope that makes the DVD.

Nino kinda had a difficult time as well. She was the only performance with back-up dancers. But I mean, I would be scared to be on the stage alone for my first performance too so I don’t blame her. (She said later that Nino was unlike any character she had ever voiced before and she was worried about being able to make it to the end! ) I think she also sung the least too… um, for the three new girls they didn’t lip-sync totally, but they did the thing where they just play the song and they sing along when they can. This is not uncommon. Dancing and singing at the same time is damn hard. I get it. I still enjoyed their performances a lot. 

But they made it super obvious by having Yui and Nino shout out “Making Drama Switch On!” while the song vocal track was still playing and I couldn’t help feeling kinda bad for them… Oh well.

The senpais were all singing live though, I am pretty sure. SoLaMi Dressing sang a couple songs with a live band even!!! They are so good ahhh!!!!

About colors for the new girls, the consensus seems to be that Yui is yellow, Nino is green, Michiru is purple. I wish Yui could be pink, but that is Laala… so…

Michiru seemed slightly sassier than last time. I guess she realized at the Tokyo one that her character is really popular hehe. Both times she was very DEKIRUDEKIRUDEKIRU never breaking idol character.

Everyone was super happy to be in Osaka. Especially Mirei, since Osaka-pu is her territory. SoLaMi Smile also performed Triangle Star in Osaka-pu in the movie and now they got to do it for real!!! This lead into a conversation about how this is their first live concert since becoming Kami Idols, and as they hugged each other the camera panned to show Dressing Pafe (PARTICULARLY DOROTHY) looking very sulky hahahah ha ha.

Shion was happy to perform with Dressing Pafe since she hasn’t been on the anime much (well she is, just in a more “lovely” form as she described it [Punicorn]). This lead to Dorothy in character complaining and tsun-ing about Shion not being around.

Dorothy also totally forgot they performed recently in the Pendai episode and Reona corrected her gently. Every time I see them Dorothy is always messing her speech up and Reona is correcting her/calming her down and it never looks staged AT ALL.

Yui was also super happy to be in Osaka since she is from Kansai originally and it was her dream to return to perform. She said our “CHIKUTAKU CHIKUTAKU” was better than Tokyo’s eheh. (…Truth is it’s probably like half the same people though hahah.)

But you know what we didn’t do better at than Tokyo? Keeping those damn watermelon beach balls in the audience during Tondemo Summer Adventure. They kept getting hit back to the stage. Dorothy and Reona kept flopping over on them and throwing them back in WHILE STILL SINGING hahaha before Reona gave up and threw one of them backstage.

One of the biggest highlights both times was everyone singing the Idol Time ending as a finale. It’s definitely the best anime ending I think and makes an amazing live song because you get to “WAKU WAKU” “CHIKU TAKU” “SAIKOU NA HAPPY!!!!!” I want them to record the all character version...

I still have kind of mixed feelings about how I feel about real life idol concerts haha. But moments like that do make it seem worth it.

[vegandoughnut]

PART 2: Cat Got Your Tongue?

Harper officially unlocks the front door to Furista's Cat Cafe. Carl helps her set out the chalkboard sign advertising their cats, cozy foods, coffees and teas.

"Who drew that?" Carl asks. Harper pauses with the store keys in her hand.

"What?"

"Looks like they drew Trump in the bottom right cor---"

"That's not Trump that's Johnny Bravo. Okay, now that the doors are open, customers are going to start filing in. What we do is we hand out a little info card. The customer fills it out with their name, a little bit about themselves and they wear it like a tag, see?" Harper pulls out some lanyards with cute index cards clipped to them. "Then we match one of our cats to the customer. Every now and then the folks from the animal adoption agency will drop by and see if we'd take in a new cat. But you won't have to worry about that for a while"

"Oh. Oh right" Carl stammers, scratching at his small beard. Harper clears her throat. "Try your best to focus more on the customers than... well you know" Harper bobs her head side to side. "The cats are more important. Keeping things in order and so on"

"So, no chit chat or buddying up basically?"

"Exactly" says Harper with a feigned show of being impressed. She puts her hands on the hips of her denim overalls then the two head back inside the cafe.

"Smells so good in here" remarks Carl.

"If you say so" says Harper. Then Carl breaks into a series of sneezes. "Are you okay?"

"Just need to take my Benadryl. Excuse me"

"Okay make it quick because honestly..." she waits till he darts over to the bathroom in the back with his hand over his nose. "That's a problem".

Kitt whooshes past Harper carrying Whiskers, a curious grey cat.

"Uh, Kitt, did you help Kumlyun with the baked goods? Should you be handling the cats if---"

"Harper. I literally spent all morning Bob the Builder'ing this place. I just got done with the cookies, and the cinnamon buns are in the oven now" Kitt replies through slightly clenched teeth. "And my daily program says I'm supposed to do cat duties now"

"Okay. Just checking in. Making sure you're alright...."

Kitt mutters to herself as she carries Whiskers away. Harper wipes at her brow.

Pradeep saunters up to Harper, adjusting his crisp shirt collar and brushing coffee grounds off his knit vest, which was a shade of brown that echoed his skin.

"Yikes" Harper mutters upon noticing.

"You say something?" Pradeep asks.

"Oh no. Everything alright Gupta?"

"Yeah, by the way it's okay to call me Pradeep" he says, arcing his perfect eyebrow. "Problem, though. So, Carl, we.... we need to make sure he learns everything step by step and doesn't get confused. He seems really flustered and I think he should be rotated between posts within specific time frames. My daily program doesn't say I'm training after 12:00"

"And you think I'm supposed to handle that?"

"Stephen put you in charge of that for today. I thought you had a plan"

"Stephen said I would be the opener and organize the shifts"

"Exactly. Exactly Harper. Spot on" says Pradeep, trying to stop a sarcastic remark from casually rolling off his tongue. "And, have you noticed something? I mean, Kitt does a lot of back and forth work. Shouldn't I take over the counter while she sticks to cat duties for the next post? Her daily program looks crazy and mine looks stagnant"

"Gupta what is this about? Like I feel like you're trying to tell me something but being really, really evasive about it" Harper says, looping her thumbs through the belt loops of her overalls.

"I'll... I'll just get back to work" says Pradeep with a sigh of exasperation. "I already know who put this schedule together. We all do"

"Boris..." Harper mutters.

Harper watches him walk off and towards Kitt. "I knew it" she grumbles to herself. She eyes the two, reading how their body language changes upon noticing one another. She crosses her arms and radios Stephen. "Stephen, can I see you in the office in a bit?" She says into the radio.

"Not... just give me 10" he replies over radio.

"Hey Harper. You look tense. Need a minute?" Asks Kumlyun very suddenly. "We have a scheduled Special Guest coming in apparently, who ordered a doughnut box. Want me to take oversight for a sec?"

"Uh. Sure" says Harper. Kumlyun flashes a quick friendly grin. Harper watches her shiny black bob bounce as she returns to the counter, rolling up the oversized sleeves of her slouchy knit turtle neck sweater.

Harper takes over behind the counter with Anekke and the very quiet and antisocial older guy Humbert, who came in for the noon shift.

"Am I good to go?" Anekke asks Harper. "I was literally only supposed to cover for Kumlyun's morning post in case she couldn't make it but she's here"

"Gotta ask Stephen. We might need an extra hand when our Special Guest arrives" she replies. "We might have an uptick in guests because apparently this person is a well known local artist"

"Great" says Anekke grumpily, folding up a doughnut box from flat cardboard into a functional vessel. She squints at the guest order on the computer screen. "Oh crap. Are we out of blackberry sauce?"

"I'll go run and get it" says Harper, light on her toes. "Um, Gupta, I mean, Pradeep? Do you mind?" Harper calls across the cafe. Pradeep puts down Shadow the cat and walks over to the counter.

"I'll barista there" he says. "Get it?"

"That's a horrible joke. It doesn't even work. You should be arrested" says Anekke rolling her eyes. Harper exits the cafe, stepping over black and white cat Bon Chan playing with yarn.

"Hey, the credit goes to Carl on that one" says Pradeep.

"Oh gosh what's wrong with him?"

"Guys" Humbert says with a condescending tone of warning in his voice. The door chime jingles and a customer walks in.

Kitt dashes over to greet them and give them a tag.

"Where the hell is Carl?" Pradeep asks.

"Probably in the office?" Anekke suggests.

"While he should be training?" Pradeep sighs and opens up a bag of sugar cubes to put into the display bowl on the counter. He eyes Kitt as she greets the customer, takes a look at their now filled out card, and matches them with one of the cuddly cats. The customer, cute kitty in his arms, takes a seat on a velvet stool at one of the dark chest table pieces.

Kitt goes back to tending to some of the other cats.

In moments Carl shows up, his nose red. Pradeep furrows his brows and folds his arms as he watches the scene unfold.

Carl tries talking to Kitt who tries her best to be friendly but dismissive. Then the customer ring the little bell on their table and Carl goes straight for them.

"I'd like a black coffee please" says the guest.

"Coming right up, William sir"

"I go by they/them pronouns"

"Oh s-sorry, William.... person"

"You literally can just say William" the guest says through a forced toothy smile.

A flustered Carl goes to the counter to prepare the black coffee.

Pradeep passes him a mug then watches intently. Carl lifts the cafetierre from off the old ceramic hot plate plugged in on the prep counter and pours the coffee. Pradeep hands him the card swipe tablet and watches Carl walk back to the customer to give him his order and accept payment.

"He's doing well" says Anekke. Humbert grunts. Pradeep and Anekke ignore it. More guests come in. Kitt hands them name tags and pencils. Some walk up to the counter. Things start getting busy at the bar. Harper returns with a reusable tote over her shoulder and joins the barista crew.

"Blackberry sauce for the doughnuts" she says, carrying with her the crisp autumn air.

"Perfect" says Anekke. Anekke sets the completed order box on the counter near the register.

"Hi, black tea latte, with sugar, great"

"The Feline Green smoothie please. Extra kale"

"Waffles, no butter. Just berries and maple syrup"

"Pink Paws smoothie. Can I get a salad with ummmm.... the tricolor peppers and the house olive oil vinaigrette"

"Waffles with butter and sliced bananas, hold the maple"

"Tabby Citrus smoothie but combined with the Feline Green except no avocado"

The counter and kitchen becomes frantic with activity.

Kitt prepares the daily raffle box but stops when the door chime jingle.

"Oh no.... is that.... the Special Guest?" She whispers to herself. She could not believe her eyes.

TBC

[pretty-idol-hell]

PriPara Movie Everybody Shine! Sparking Star Live (the space one)

Welp, they abandoned plot again and went back to just rapid fire performances. Which isn’t that bad of a thing, it’s just that this is less of a movie and more of a theater experience so to speak. (It was made for cheering shows but the cheering shows in Nagoya are already overrr... still I’m glad I got to see it at all.) 

So it may be somewhat disappointing when it comes out on DVD since so many performances are reused and the other segments go by super fast. There was some new stuff towards the end, and I will put that under a cut. However if you have watched the anime openings or played PriPuz you already kinda know about it. (Still, I found I had a lot to say...) Also Idol Time preview at the end.

So this movie wastes NO TIME and opens with Meganii all ready to blast everyone into space. The formula for the first 70% of the movie is:

1. The characters land on a planet. 2. The planet is some terrible pun. 3. They have a very brief competition that makes no sense and then the “winner” performs a live reused from the show. 4. Repeat like six times. Haha but I mean, Amazing Castle... Mon Chou Chou... *shivers up and down* There really is nothing like seeing them in the theater... (it reaffirmed for me that Gaarmageddon and Tricolore are the true Grandprix finalists...)

So, and then finally towards the end it happens that... 

A giant umeboshi (pickled plum) crashes into them and small umeboshi people come out and tell Sophy she is their princess. (I think these guys are official characters for something else but I don’t know what. Anyway.) Sophy is totally down with it, but Laala (who is suddenly wearing the space suit she wears in her PriPuz card for some reason... no segway) and Mirei try to tell the umeboshi people that Sophy is not their princess. They decide Sophy should perform and that will prove it. 

Sophy comes down hanging from the ceiling out in that ridiculous bombshell dress (the one from her PriPuz card), but then changes into an umeboshi coord and performs AN AMAZING song called Red Flash Revolution. (I rarely like songs the first time I hear them but this one was awesome.) After the performance the umeboshi people are still convinced BUT then their real princess shows up (who is basically mini-Sophy) and apologizes for wandering off. 

You know, other than Laala and Sophy I don’t think anybody actually wears the outfits they had on PriPuz in the movie... (or at least not in this course).

Then everyone gets sucked into a black hole and although it’s not announced, this is where the different courses start. 

Alternate dimension Tricolore are space pirates and pick up jellyfish Sophy floating in space. As her thanks to them they tell her she has to watch them perform. 

So Hibiki course is basically just Tricolore in SICK PIRATE OUTFITS singing an original song called Neo Dimension Go!! on a space pirate ship. WITH SWORDS. 

IT WAS AWESOME. 

TRICOLORE SOUNDS SO GOOD TOGETHER OMGGGGGG. 

So if you watched the anime spoilers you may have seen Falulu tied up on a pirate ship? Well, if you were worried about that, she doesn’t actually get kidnapped. (This time.) That was just a bit from their making drama. 

Also if you watched the anime spoilers you’ll know the Laala course has a Laala and Nao performance and the Mirei course has Minami Mirei performing with her Idol Lawyer and Idol Prosecutor alternate egos.

Then the tour is over and everyone in is enjoying the success of the tour with a swim when suddenly the sun goes out for some reason. They made a joke about Chanko making a huge splash when she jumped in the water right before but I’m not sure if they actually had anything to do with it. 

EDIT: NO. ACTUALLY upon my second viewing, yes this was a Chanko fat joke. Her splash from jumping in the water goes so high that it puts out the sun. In the next few scenes Chanko is crying in the background. 

So Meganii tells them they have to perform well enough to make the sun shine again!

Everyone gets in their Puchu coords and they do a big finale song together. Almost everyone. Hibiki is not in it. Which is REALLY REALLY OFFPUTTING because Falulu and Fuwari were in it and there was even a space for Hibiki but she just wasn’t there. The only reason for this I can think of is they didn’t want to put her in the fluffy skirt of the movie coord. But a.) seriously they can’t just take a minute to design her some pants like before and b.) she is wearing this coord on the theater bonus PriTicket anyway. (Although you can’t see what she has on at the bottom.) This really upset me because Hibiki wasn’t in the PriParis finale, but she was still technically a villain in the anime at the time so I accepted it. This time there was no excuse.

So I don’t even remember what the song was like because the whole time I was like where is Hibiki. Where is she. Where. Hibiki. WHERE. And then she appeared on a couch floating in space. 

And then I saw my character in the credits so I forgot about this for a while.

Edit: Upon second viewing, the finale is a good song. But I’m still mad. For the record, all of Ucchari BIG BANGS sits this out too because they also couldn’t be bothered to make a Chanko version. But it’s still more distracting that Hibiki is not there because there is literally an empty space for her.

Perhaps this is more proof that Takara Tomy really does secretly read my blog. “We don’t have enough time to redesign this coord for Hibiki so she sits out. OH SHIT we’re gonna make that one girl mad, QUICK throw her character into the credits.”

Speaking of Hibiki’s clothes, before this there is a segment where everyone is in bathing suits. Rantan also appears without her pumpkin head and we see she has short red hair! But they put Hibiki in long pants and a long sleeved button down white shirt. (...possibly with her chest bound?) I felt bad for her. Her gender/clothing preference does not work with the beach... (and excludes her from fucking performing apparently...)

Anyway. And that is basically the movie. 

Except for one thing. 

After the credits we get a “Danpara” (boys PriPara) preview. And I think it was the most bizarre and sexual thing I have ever seen in PriPara.

Reona and Meganii meet in an alley or something. They acknowledge “the time has come”, Reona says “I’m ready” and then they both zip down their clothes in front of one another pretty much down past their navels, exposing their boy chests. The next thing we see is Reona on the stage at Danpara with male voices hooting “IIIZE!”. 

Um. 

WH--- 

Okay putting everything else aside, is... is Reona really going to go to Danpara? I... don’t know... if I am OK with that.... 

Reona and Leo from King of Prism are gradually melding into the same character in my mind. 

(Oh yeah and we see Yui going up to a soon opening Prism Stone too but whatever.)

Somebody needs to do their gender studies thesis on PriPara. I know it will happen. I once heard someone doing one about Sailor Moon.

[pretty-idol-hell]

PriPara 134

Well. Here we go.

It’s the final showdown between SoLaMi Smile and Non Sugar on Valentines Day.

The show opens with some kind of goat talk show discussing the likelihood of who will win eheh. I had to rewind to check which members of Non Sugar made which of Hibiki’s boxes. Pepper was baka box of course, Chili was genius, Non’s box said “spunky” or something like that.

Janice knows she has to be unbiased but she can’t help rooting for Non Sugar. Jewlie says she knows how she feels and they both sneak down as MyCharas to give chocolate to their favorite team.

Dressing Pafe goes off on a journey (since they get to bypass the next round) and gets replaced with cardboard cutouts.

So.

Going into this episode I picked up on three small hints that predicted a Non Sugar victory. And they are:

1. A weird thing Non’s voice actress said at the Christmas event.

2. The title of the episode (“Valentines Day is Not Sweet”) refers to Non Sugar.

3. The Non Sugar themed Valentines event on PriPuz.

However a few things pointed to a SoLaMi Smile victory too…

1.) Laala in the super Kami coord in the opening sequence.

2.) It’s only the first round. If SoLaMi Smile lost it would be at a more climactic moment I would think.

3.) Well. The entire history of this show.

Still I was like.. you know what, I think Non Sugar can do it.

Then Usacha picked the number 1.

And I was like… no…

While Non Sugar performed I just thought about all they had been through and how hard they had to work to get along and how much Non wanted this and just…

Then the platforms raised.

And seeing SoLaMi Smile not only win, but be so much higher than Non Sugar.

Then Non was crying.

Then I felt myself kinda start crying and just.

Really though. What did SoLaMi Smile do to deserve this. I know they have a lot more experience but this season was so much more about Non’s journey. SoLaMi Smile did not really grow as characters. Laala wants to win so she can save Jewlie BUT SO DOES NON. Non had a relationship with Jululu too AND Janice.

It’s not fair…

Well… that’s it… (Warning, I am about to ruin the rest of the season.)

Next week is SoLaMi vs. Tricolore.

If Tricolore wins then the big showdown will be Tricolore vs. Dressing Pafe. Do you really think they will do that? No of course not. So Tricolore will lose and the finale will be the age old rivalry of SoLaMi Smile vs Dressing Pafe. And SoLaMi Smile will win because Laala has the strongest relationship with Jewlie.

THE END :-T

UGH.

I am sorry I actually am shockingly sad about Non Sugar.

Like really. They didn’t deserve that. After all that whole long saga from the beginning of this season (heck the beginning of the show) about Non trying to beat Laala… it really ends here..? They were basically the only hope to beat SoLaMi Smile. So yeah. If Tricolore or Dressing Pafe does pull it off I will gladly eat my words and climb mount Fuji to shout that I was wrong (um. hypothetically) but…