lumeria (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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bakerstreet2023-04-21 07:26 pm
lumeria) wrote in bakerstreet2023-04-21 07:26 pm
randomness
comment with your character.
respond to others
lbr — no one uses rng. just go wild, and maybe kinda sorta pick from the scenarios below?
post picture prompts OR write starters OR whatever!
have a grand ol' time
TYPES OF SCENES
① Action → Gun fights, bar brawls, fights to the death are all possible scenarios.
② Angst → Characters suffer emotionally or physically from relationships breaking up, death, injury, etc. Hurt and comfort themes are included.
③ Crack → Genderswaps, super powers, sudden compulsions are all possible outcomes.
④ Fluff → Something that is devoid of angst. It's light-hearted and might have the overtone of romance.
⑤ Gen → General fun, things that didn't fit in the other categories.
⑥ Sex → First times, kinks, even dubcon are all possible themes of sex related scenarios.
⑦ Your choice → Think of your own scenario, choose one of the above or make a combo even!
ACTION.
① Zombies → It's the zombie apocalypse, lock and load!
② Bar brawl → You had one too many drinks, said something wrong, and now you're being asked to take it outside.
③ Chase → You're caught in a high speed chase.
④ Gun fight → You're caught in a big shoot-out.
⑤ Fight with a friend → You're fighting with a friend, all out.
⑥ Interrogation → You're being interrogated for some offense you've done.
⑦ Aliens → Aliens are attacking and you're not going to take your probe laying down!
⑧ Final battle → This is it. The battle that will end all the fighting for you. Will you win? Will you get that peace you want?
⑨ Training → You're not actually fighting, just training for the inevitable.
⑩ No hope → You know this fight has no hope. It's not going to end well for anyone involved, but you can't turn away.
⑪ Sneaking in → You're stealing a diamond or sneaking in to kick some bad guy butt, but whatever it is, you have to practice stealth.
⑫ Blue wire → You're faced with a bomb that needs to be disarmed.
⑬ Fight for honour → You've been disgraced or someone you care about has, so it's time to fight for honour.
⑭ Showdown → Time for a cowboy-style showdown. Whoever draws the fastest wins.
⑮ War → You're caught in the middle of a war here. Remember to keep your chin up and keeping fighting.
⑯ Apocalypse → The apocalypse finally happened and now you're left to scavenge and fight for whatever is left.
⑰ Sabotage → It's time to sabotage someone's plan! How is entirely up to you. Do you set up a bomb in their toilet? Do you double cross them at the last minute?
⑱ Big damn hero → You know you have to handle this one alone, so that means disarming or knocking unconscious the person who wants to join you.
⑲ Fight club → You know the rules... you're in an underground fighting ring and you're fighting with all you've got.
⑳ Threaten → You've just been sent here to rough them up a little, threaten them into behaving.
ANGST.
① Injury / illness → Your character has become injured or ill! To what extent is the mun's choice.
② Last moments → You character has been gravely injured and this is their last chance to say their last words.
③ Depression → Your character is depressed, what actions they take is up to the mun.
④ Betrayed → You character has been betrayed by the other. How do they react?
⑤ Tortured → Your character is being tortured and needs rescuing or at least a sympathetic ear to help him through it.
⑥ Jealousy → Your character is feeling jealous and must deal with it, how will they do it?
⑦ Breakup! → This relationship has gone as far as it can, it's time to breakup.
⑧ Broken → For whatever reason, the character is broken, mentally or or physically.
⑨ Fight → You can't even be in the same room as your friend or lover without arguing anymore.
⑩ Lost → You lost the biggest fight of your life and now all you can do is try to pick up the pieces.
⑪ Worst nightmare → Whatever you fear the most is now real or maybe you're just trapped in a dream together, but whatever it is, it feels too real.
⑫ Addicted → You're addicted to something, alcohol, drugs, sex, whatever. It's destroying your life and you can't do anything to stop it.
⑬ Hurt you → You're being forced to hurt someone you love either by betraying them or even being forced to shout things you don't mean. It's for their own good in the end though.
⑭ Separation → You were forced to leave this person for their own safety and while you've been miserable without them, you really didn't mean to run into them again... maybe it was by accident or you were watching them from afar this whole time.
⑮ Becoming a monster → You are slowly changing, becoming a monster: vampire, zombie, demon, something you can't recover from and no-one can help you.
⑯ Frozen → You are entirely helpless, frozen, to stop some kind of disaster.
⑰ Prison → You were very bad and now it's time to pay the price by turning yourself in or maybe the law just finally caught up to you.
⑱ Fear → You're not sure why, but you are suddenly terrified and you can't deal with it. You need help.
⑲ Hated → You are now hated by the person you loved the most.
⑳ Down and out → You're living on the streets, you've hit rock bottom, and you don't know what to do.
CRACK.
① Sexswap → Uh-oh, you're suddenly the opposite sex!
② Forced confessions → No matter what it is and no matter how hard you resist, you're going to be compelled to spill some deep dark secret!
③ Mind-reading → You've suddenly got the ability to read minds!
④ Animal → You're suddenly part animal or transformed into an animal!
⑤ Awkward pick-up lines → You're compelled to use bad pickup lines on whoever is closest!
⑥ Back in School / Graduated → You're suddenly back in school! Or if you were already in it, you've aged and long since graduated!
⑦ Vampires, werewolves, and zombies, oh my! → You're suddenly a vampire, werewolf, or zombie! Maybe even a demon or a devil, whatever creepy crawly you can think of. What do you do now?
⑧ Ghost → You're suddenly a ghost or at least invisible. What are you going to do with this new ability?
⑨ Awkward conversations → So did you just fart or what? Any conversation goes, as long as it's embarrassing and awkward.
⑩ Crossdressing → For whatever reason, you're suddenly dressed in clothes of the opposite sex.
⑪ Suddenly naked → Oops! Your clothes are suddenly gone.
⑫ Suddenly a kid → You're a kid again! Have fun with that second childhood.
⑬ Fortune cookie → You've suddenly received a note with something that will happen in the future, either precise or vague.
⑭ Super power → And suddenly you're like Superman! Any power goes.
⑮ Bodyswap → Somehow you've changed bodies with the other person.
⑯ Back in time → Somehow, you wound up in the past again. Do you try to correct something or just sit and wait for time to jump? Maybe it jumps to various points in your life or maybe you actually think you're back in the day. Have fun, run wild with the idea!
⑰ To the future → Is it everything you've dreamed? Is it horrible? Whatever happens, you're here to witness what happens to you in the future. Either you take the place of your future self or you're just there to watch. Might cause some confusion if people start seeing double though...
⑱ Angels, mermaids, and fairies! → You're not necessary something dark or evil. You're just something different. How do you deal?
⑲ Locked in a closet → For some reason, you're locked up in a closet with someone else. Do you make nice and try to figure your way out or what?
⑳ Finger trap → You're caught in a Chinese finger trap... with somebody else! You can't figure out how to get loose either... have fun with that.
FLUFF.
① Cuddling → For whatever reason, characters feel like being close and cuddling.
② Pillow talk → After the main event, characters are up for some pillow talk.
③ Celebration → Anniversary or some other big event is taking place and characters want to celebrate!
④ Love confession → Someone has finally decided to confess their love and today is the day!
⑤ Appreciation → You feel the need to show appreciation for that person closest to you, even if it's just a pat on the back.
⑥ Apologies → You made a mistake and now it's time to make it up in some way you know the other can't refuse!
⑦ Get back together → Why did you break up again exactly? Whatever the reason, it was a huge mistake and you both know you can work through it.
⑧ Date night → You've planned for a wonderful night together and you can't wait to get it started.
⑨ Family → You've either found out you're pregnant or you've already got that addition to your family.
⑩ Marriage → You're just about to get hitched or maybe you're enjoying your honeymoon. Maybe you've been together for years now! Whatever the case, it's time for that next big step.
⑪ Meeting again → It's time for that happy reunion finally!
⑫ Love at first sight → For whatever reason, you are now insanely in love with the first person you set eyes on.
⑬ Flirtation → You can't resist to do a little bit of harmless flirtation all of a sudden.
⑭ In the snow → Look outside! It's a winter wonderland, so why not go out and play in it?
⑮ Engagement → You've planned it all out and now it's time to finally pop the question.
⑯ Friendly games → You've set up the game station or board games for a friendly competition!
⑰ Gift → Time to give that special someone a gift just because.
⑱ Recovery → You're taking care of someone who's just recovered from some illness or injury.
⑲ Healing → Time to help mend that someone who's been through hell and back.
⑳ Better than ever → You've finally got everything you've ever wanted here. What is your ideal life and who does it include?
GEN.
① Nice meeting you → It's your first time meeting this person! You bumped into each other on the street, in a bar, at work... whatever!
② Drinks → You're out for drinks! Or just chilling at home with some beers. Wherever!
③ Lost → You're lost and you kind of need help finding your way to where you're going. A little help with directions?
④ Costume party → You're at a costume party, both of you are wearing masks. Do you keep the anonymity or take it off and see whose company you've been enjoying?
⑤ Wrong number → Oops, actually you didn't mean to call that person...
⑥ Drunk → You're already drunk! Drunk dialing, stumbling into someone, showing up unexpected... what type of drunk are you anyway? Aggressive, loving, happy? How does the other react?
⑦ Old friends → you haven't seen this person in a long time!
⑧ Rivals → you're suddenly rivals! Or maybe you have been all along...
⑨ Problems → you've got a problem with each other, just got in a huge fight, whatever. Try to work it out!
⑩ What are your intentions... → This person? They're dating a close friend, family member, etc. You need to find out if they're going to hurt them! Or you need to discuss your friend/family's dating choice.
⑪ I saw you → you saw the other person doing something bad and you need to confront them about it.
⑫ Sorry but no → the other person has feelings that you just don't share. They don't necessarily have to be romantic... maybe you just don't agree with their sudden desire to quit their job and start a business making tiny, fuzzy teddy bears.
⑬ My hero → you need to tell this person how much they mean to you. They've been your best friend or your role model your whole life and they need to know.
⑭ Enabler → you're enabling the other (or each other) to do something bad, really bad. Addiction, stealing, killing, or just any other self-destructive behavior.
⑮ Cooking → Time for an impromptu cooking lesson!
⑯ Oh, sure, I remember you... → It's that awkward moment when someone comes up and seems to know you, but you have no idea who they even are!
⑰ Rescue! → One of you was in trouble, but you came to the rescue!
⑱ Boss → One of you works under the other. Is your relationship good? Are you scheming things? Or do you hate each other?
⑲ Perfect crime → You and the other person have just pulled off the perfect crime... or you're planning to! What are you doing? The heist of the century, an assassination?
⑳ Movies → movie night! Maybe it's a sleepover. Whichever the case, it's time to eat a lot and have fun.
SEX.
① First time → it's your first time together or your first time ever! Enjoy the awkward times!
② Bondage → You and your partner decide to experiment a little with ropes or handcuffs or whatever you'd like to tie your partner up with.
③ Rough / Aggressive → Your characters want it rough.
④ Romantic → Slow and gentle, meaningful, that's how characters want it.
⑤ Dubcon → Character A wants Character B and it doesn't really matter if Character B wants it as bad or not.
⑥ In public → Characters feel like taking a risk and doing it in a public place.
⑦ Roleplay → Naughty nurse fetish? Pirate kink? You and your partner decide to try it out now!
⑧ Healing → You've both fought hard or gone through a rough time and it's time to get some R&R in.
⑨ Last time → This is the last time you're going to this because you're breaking up or maybe your lover is running off to sacrifice their lives in some heroic way. The possibilities are endless, but you better make this one count.
⑩ No strings attached → You're just friends with benefits. Nothing wrong with that, right?
⑪ Anonymous → You met in a restroom or bar, any location of your choosing, but you don't even know each other's names.
⑫ Toys → You're eager to try something new, so why not toys?
⑬ Aphrodisiacs → You've been slipped a strong aphrodisiac somehow and now you absolutely cannot control yourself.
⑭ Show → You're putting on a show by either doing it right in the club or filming it for a bunch of people.
⑮ Ménage à trois → It's time for that threesome you've always dreamed of.
⑯ Non-penetrative → Frottage, handjobs, whatever you want to try out.
⑰ Controlled → You are under mind control and must do whatever your lover asks of you.
⑱ Hatesex → It's not just rough or aggressive, you absolutely cannot stand each other.
⑲ Extreme → Fisting, knifeplay, whatever you can think of so long as it tests the boundaries.
⑳ Fantasy → This is just a fantasy, a dream, and you know it, but what is your ideal fantasy and how willing is your partner?
no subject
[Just singing and dancing alone won't cut it. An idol must cultivate a variety of skills and take on different jobs or risk being left behind by the changing times. Learning how to act is merely one part of that.
Honestly, he's not well-versed in it. While being an idol requires him to give his best performance, Hiyori is still himself when he's onstage: the brightest, most dazzling version of himself. He did get to film that web series the other month, where he and some colleagues acted like delinquents in the style of an old-school shounen manga, but he still made his appearance as "the idol Hiyori Tomoe." Stepping into someone else's shoes, and acting out a whole new character, is relatively new for him. Now that he's gotten a taste of the acting world, though...
Yep, as he thought, this suits him just right.
The more acting he does, the more convinced he is of his own limitless potential. It would seem there's no role he can't portray: pipe-wielding delinquent, moon princess, high school heartthrob—he can do it all, no problem!
The current project is where that last role comes in. "A heartwarming youth drama" is how it's pitched to him: the story of a plucky young heroine dealing with love and loss, surrounded by friends, rivals, and a princely love interest. Naturally, he's cast as the male lead.
The leading actress is someone he doesn't know, a "rising young star." Since she's an actress and not an idol, it only makes sense that he's not familiar with her work. He does know some female idols, though, as having those connections can come in useful. It's for this reason that he does recognize one of the other girls on-set: the idol simply known as Ai.
Hiyori knows talent when he sees it. More importantly, he understands what it means to be shine: to dazzle audiences with your natural charisma and shower them with radiance. That's the kind of idol Hiyori always strives to be. So when he sees AI's videos online, and then sees her in-person on-set, he recognizes a particular quality in her—something that draws you in. It can't be bought or sold, and even his dear old friend Eichi couldn't hope to manufacture it.
Which is why he's at an absolute loss, really, as to why she's not playing the lead.
Instead, she's been cast in the role of heroine's best friend. She plays her role nicely, of course, and the girl cast as heroine is cute enough for TV. Still, he can't help but think of the wasted potential. It's no skin off his nose, but he wonders why Ai wasn't cast as the lead. Is it because he's the love interest, and having two bright and shining stars in one room would simply be too overwhelming for audiences to bear?
Yep, that must be it.
Well, there's no rule saying he can't approach her during breaks. But whenever the cameras aren't rolling, he notices she's usually off in the hall, playing with that pair of twins. The children apparently belong to her manager, who for some reason is always on set with them. He finds that a little strange, but since everyone loves having two adorable, well-behaved children around, no one voices any complaints. As for Hiyori, he'll just have to find something else to do with his break—
Something stops him in the doorway to their fake classroom.
A whole new expression crosses the idol-turned-actress's face. She's smiling, but not like how he's seen her smile on set—it's a bright, joyous smile, one that reaches her up to her eyes and makes them sparkle. Full of earnest affection, she laughs, patting one child on the head, who seems thoroughly accustomed to that sort of treatment. Both children are perfectly at ease around her, and she around them.
What is it about this that captivates him? He honestly isn't sure. But for one reason or another, the heartwarming sight lingers in his mind for a long while afterwards. Perhaps she really is just that dazzling.
So, the next day, he arrives on-set carrying a little something extra. He has no idea what the common toddler likes to eat, but in his estimation children love sweets, so he stops and picks up some gourmet candies at a nearby shop. He'll just pass those along, and it'll be his good deed for the day! Yep, nothing wrong with making children smile. But when it comes time for break...]
Hmm?
[He glances where he saw them a few minutes ago, but sees nothing.]
Just where did those two children disappear to?
[The manager, he notices, is also gone. Will they be back later? If not, who does he give the gourmet candy to? If only there was someone who could answer his questions.]
no subject
It's funny. She'd stake her life on being able to lie with the best of them, but she's oddly unconfident about her acting. It's not like her at all and it makes her a little relieved to be ceding the spotlight to someone else for a change.
(Ruby, of course, had insisted that the lead actress should be fired and the part given to her mama instead. Ai had disagreed but thanked her for the vote of confidence anyway.)
Having Miyako and the twins here makes her feel a little better. Even knowing she can trust Miyako with them, it makes her feel ill at ease leaving them in the apartment so often. Even if weren't for the time she was spending apart from them, she'd worry – Aqua and Ruby are smart kids and it must be frustrating for them both to be cooped up without any friends of their own age to play with. They're just a hair too young for kindergarten and it's not as though they could have playdates with family friends, so maybe letting them spend some time on set and around some fresh faces is good for them.
... and if it means Ai gets to spend half her work day hanging out with her babies, then that's totally just a bonus! She deserves it for working so hard!
And more than anything it's– it's nice. It's nice to be in public with Aqua and Ruby, to fuss over them and spend time with them and show them off to everyone as they coo and dote on her little ones. Every day that goes by, every time she hears one of her costars coo about how cute Ruby is, or chuckle to themselves about how comically serious Aqua is, she wants to just shout from the rooftops that yes! Those are her babies! They're beautiful! Thank you for noticing! But she swallows the urge down every time and just makes sure to continue smiling and nodding along with everyone else, as if they have nothing to do with her.
They're missing from the set after her first break, though. Some urgent business had come up elsewhere that Miyako had needed to deal with and there was no convenient excuse they could use to have the twins bobbing around the set regardless. So Ai had been forced to see them off – Ruby in tears and Aqua frowning intensely while putting on a show of not caring at all, really – and spend the rest of the afternoon by herself. With everyone else busy and elsewhere, she had at least been able to give them both a fierce hug and kiss before hurrying away, but it still left her heart heavy in her chest.
It hadn't occurred to her just how much lonelier it would feel, making her way down the corridor without them, until she was actually doing it. ]
– Hm?
[ Oh, that's... ]
Tomoe-san! [ Ai picks up her pace, hurrying to the classroom door so she can join him. Usually Hiyori has an air of knowing exactly what he's doing that she finds she respects but right now, he almost looks a little lost. ] We're the first ones back from break, it looks like!
[ Then she makes a little show of noticing his expression and tilts his head. ]
Hm? Is something wrong?
no subject
He smiles, but not quickly enough, it seems, since she catches him looking confused. What sharp eyes she has.]
Nope! Nothing to worry yourself about.
[He is, however, still carrying the tin in his hands, which she's probably bound to ask about next. He figures there's no harm in giving an honest response. Expressing an interest in those kids shouldn't seem strange, with half the people on-set constantly fawning over them.]
I was just wondering where those two children wandered off to. When I was window-shopping this morning, I found something I thought might interest them, so I went ahead and bought it without a second thought! But there's always later, I suppose.
no subject
[ Though she does her best to keep her expression under control, she can't quite manage to dim down the smile that lights up her face. ]
For Aqua and Ruby? Really? [ They really have gone and made themselves the apple of everyone on set's eyes, huh? She probably shouldn't be surprised but she finds that she is, with a pleased little flutter in her chest to boot. ] Jeez, at this rate, everyone's going to spoil them rotten.
[ If Ai doesn't manage it first, anyhow. ]
Miyako-san had to take them with her to deal with some kind of emergency... but I can see if they'll be back before we wrap for today!
no subject
Ah, yes! Those were their wonderfully colorful names.
[Said mostly without irony. He happens to find their names charming.
His expression turns a little more thoughtful as she finishes up, as though he just realized something. Right, right... those children belong to her manager, "Miyako-san." She'd probably already met them numerous times before filming began, which would explain why they seemed so close. Of course.]
Well, even if they're not back until another day, that's fine. These candies don't have an expiration date.
[He can bring them back to his dorm, then bring them in again the next day. It goes against his personal policy of "never carrying anything heavier than a chopstick," but it would surely be worth it in order to make some adorable children smile. Yep, that's what he'll have to do, he thinks.
Until a more sensible alternative suddenly occurs to him.]
—Actually, why don't you take them? You'll see your manager before filming starts again anyway, right?
no subject
[ With that much good cheer, she sounds almost as gleeful as the kids probably will be to get it. She reaches to take the box from him, beaming all across her face the whole while. ]
Heehee, this is going to make their day. Ruby loves sweets whenever she can get her hands on them – Aqua does too, even if he likes pretending he doesn't. Isn't that supposed to be a thing teenagers do? I guess they do say prodigies grow up fast...
[ She's definitely rambling a little more than is really necessary, but in her defence it's not like she gets many opportunities to gush about them both. ]
no subject
He wonders at first if she has a sweet tooth. But as she continues, the source of her joy soon becomes clear: it's those two children again, whose personalities and preferences she seems to know like the back of her own hand. They surely must have spent a lot of time together.
His eyes crinkle at the corners, smile softening; it's always good to spread cheer!]
Sounds like you're all as close as family.
no subject
Heehee, does it really look that way? [ Her smile, despite everything, is still the real thing. As real as it gets with her, anyway. ] I guess it makes sense. Since they're with Miyako-san all the time, they've gone and gotten attached to me. Kids are like that at that age, aren't they? They latch on so long as someone's nice and familiar enough.
[ Not that Ai would know. ]
no subject
Hmm, that might be true.
[He thinks, briefly, of his childhood friend, who imprinted on him like a duckling when they were younger.]
But simply being close with your manager is a good thing all by itself. If you're going to work together all the time, you ought to be close as family; that's always been my outlook. And I'm sure those children are overjoyed to have such a doting older sister, too.
So, perhaps it's for the best I hand those candies off to you! Those children will probably be even happier to receive them from you than from me—though I am quite popular with youngsters as well as older fans...♪
no subject
She looks down at the box of sweets in her hands and decides that right now, she's just going to focus on how happy it'll make the two of them to get these. That they wouldn't have been in a position to be fussed over and spoiled like this if she'd made a different choice.
There. With that, she's able to put her usual smile right back in its place where it belongs and give Hiyori a nod. ]
Right! I'll put them away with my things so I don't forget them.
[ She dips into the classroom to do just that - but then she pauses to look back over her shoulder. ]
Oh, and- [ Ai beams at him. She's always smiling, of course, but right now it seems just a little brighter. ] Thanks a lot for thinking of them, Tomoe-san. Let's have a good afternoon of filming!
no subject
But before they part ways, she stops and throws him one last smile. Somehow it's bigger and brighter than her last; absolutely radiant. The kind of smile that earns a person fans, and inspires rabid loyalty. He, of course, considers himself the master of dazzling smiles.
So why does he feel like he's been outshined?
Was he thinking of those kids? Was his goal to make them happy? Or had he been hoping to see another one of her bright, genuine smiles?
He feels oddly taken aback. But he still manages to smile brilliantly in return, returning her pep talk easily.]
Yep, let's do our best ♪
[And so, that's that. Soon the other actors and crew members find their way back to the set, and filming resumes. He exchanges no more dialogue with the idol known as Ai: their characters have no direct interaction.
Once filming is done for the day, there's more work awaiting him back at ES. He has a rehearsal with Eden, and then a photoshoot scheduled the following day. His schedule is bound to be busy; that's what happens when you're so popular. He harbors no complaints when this is the sparkling future he chose for himself.
While busy, he spares no more thought to Ai, those two children, or the candy he gave out as a gift. Other things take precedence.
It's a different story, however, when he's alone in his dorm room. Though he shares with two roommates, both of them are out. He showers, does his daily skincare routine, and makes sure Mary's taken care of. He still has some time before bed, however, which might be why he reaches for his phone. Normally he just checks social media, but this time he finds himself pulling up a video site instead.
B-Komachi. He's watched a couple of theirs before. This time he settles in to watch a couple more.
He learns nothing from doing this. His initial impression is only re-confirmed; though the others seem confident, Ai is by far the best performer, as expected of the group's center. He's still not sure why she wasn't made the lead in the drama. Maybe it came down to a lack of acting experience (though he doesn't have much, either), or perhaps the actual lead actress is simply well-connected. Either way, he's not sure what he hoped to achieve. This isn't necessary research. Perhaps he was just in the mood to see things from an audience perspective, for a change—
Something in the sidebar catches his eye.
Baby twins react to idol by doing a fan dance
He blinks, staring at the screen. The thumbnail shows two tiny, pixelated children. He can't make out many details at that low resolution. The video already has several million views. He goes ahead and clicks.
Once it starts, his eyes grow wide. Not because of the coordinated dance those babies are doing, or because of how charming they are, although the content is certainly impressive too. No, he's stunned because there's something distinctly familiar about them.
You should've included her reaction! says the top-rated comment. Below it, another user provides a link. Something compels him to click it, even though he knows his beauty sleep is more important than any Internet rabbit hole. The link takes him to another video, starting with the same footage again, but this one goes on even longer, and includes something else: the delighted reaction of the idol up onstage.
Ai, from B-Komachi.
The video finishes. Hiyori exits the site before another one can autoplay, setting his phone down on his desk.
Well. That was certainly something.
The next day, filming proceeds as normal. Hiyori arrives on-site on time and greets his crewmates. Ai isn't with the others, and a cursory glance down the hall tells him the reason why; she's off playing with those kids again.
He doesn't get a chance to talk to her until break. As usual, their characters have no interaction, but they are in the same room together for a classroom scene which includes the whole cast. Everyone goes their separate ways during break, and Hiyori himself could use a bite to eat. But after what he saw last night, calling out to Ai before she can scamper off takes priority.
At least he has a reason to reach out.]
Hello, Ai-chan~ ☆
[His boisterous greeting is accompanied by a smile and a wave. Most other people have gone, but a few are left to overhear, and a couple of heads might have turned in his direction. Is this entirely too casual a way for a male co-worker to address a female idol? Quite possibly, and Hiyori is perhaps a bit too laidback about this sort of thing. A consequence of being surrounded by guys most of the time. But the others on set, at least, are accustomed to how casual he is with everyone.]
Good work with your scene! As always, your delivery was impeccable. I'm sure there's lots I could learn from you ♪
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To her slightly smug satisfaction, the two of them react just as she'd predicted – Ruby delighted and Aqua playing at being aloof even if he couldn't fool Ai. They'd already had dinner with Miyako so Ai lets them have maybe a few too many pieces before bed (they haven't had their teeth brushed yet, so it's fine!) and watches them both scarf them down with a smile of her own. It uh, leaves them both a little sugar buzzed just in time for bed but she thinks it's worth it to put such big smiles on their faces.
As she's putting them both down to sleep, she makes sure to remind them to thank Hiyori if they get a chance. And when she's drifting off to sleep herself that night, Ai finds herself thinking – the little world she's chosen to live in as an idol isn't the kindest place to be, but sometimes the people in it are. It's always a nice surprise when it happens.
She doesn't get a chance to voice the thought to Hiyori the next day, at least not for a good while. The schedule of a TV shoot is much more dense than she's used to, but with Ruby and Aqua around the whole day for her to recharge, she can manage!
She's planning to scurry off and see them again when Hiyori calls out to her and though she can tell the address has piqued some interest, it's nothing she can't handle. She's a pro, isn't she? ]
Heehee, you're just flattering me, Tomoe-san. [ Polite but distant enough to set anyone overhearing at ease. ] I'm just doing my best to keep up with everybody else.
[ And she makes up for the gap by shining so bright, nobody on the other side of the lens notices any difference. Easy. ]
But you have a big one coming up this afternoon, right?
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[And here she could have fooled him. He had quite the opposite impression, rather: that she was holding herself back to match everybody else. But that isn't necessarily the case, is it? "Beneath every lovely swan is a pair of legs desperately peddling through the water." People say that sort of thing a lot. It's possible that's what's going on here.
It's also perfectly likely she's just being modest. But either way, no matter.]
Ah, yes! The one where I have to be the bearer of bad news. That's certainly an important one! Fortunately, I have every line memorized. I'll be sure to give it my all, so that there's not a dry eye left in the room.
[He manages to muster some enthusiasm, sounding excited about the filming, even though he could truthfully take or leave the script. Things had started to look up for the heroine, with many of her issues getting resolved, and she was even working up the nerve to confess to her crush! But then another devastating blow was dealt: her love interest is moving abroad. His father's company went under, and so the man had to find a new job overseas! How will she react when he delivers the bad news?
Well, honestly, he doesn't much care, but he can get into the role when he he connects it to his own circumstances. If he was no longer allowed to be the cheeky problem child, and his parents asked him to quit his career and shoulder more responsibility at home, he'd have no choice but to obey, wouldn't he? For someone like him, who found a place where he belongs outside the home, that would truly be some terrible weather. So, he'll just act it out like it's that sort of situation. Everyone in his shuffle unit seemed convinced by his acting last time, so it should be fine.
That wasn't all he wanted to talk about, though, even though he did bring up the subject first. In the same casual tone, he cuts to the chase.]
... By the way, did you ever get a chance to pass my gift along?
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I'm sure you'll pull it off perfectly! I've been watching some of your scenes between my shoots and you really never miss a beat when it comes to bringing out all sorts of feelings.
[ A lie, but not entirely untrue. She spends most of her time between takes with the twins but on the occasions she isn't able to sneak away and see them, she watches all of her co-workers. She's certain they must have their own special tricks to stand out on camera that she could take for herself and Hiyori has a particular gleam to him that she thinks she could make use of.
Her smile is sincere enough, though. Maybe because it's Ai – or more likely, because she's getting to talk about her two favourite people again. ]
Oh, I did, I did! [ There's that sparkle from before – the one she doesn't even try to supress when the twins are around. ] They were so excited, you'd think they'd never even seen candy before. I told them to say thank you once they saw you, but...
[ Well, they can't be underfoot while Ai's filming, even if she knows they usually like to watch when she's in a scene. Knowing Aqua, he'll be peering through all the cameras with the director and if Ruby's not glued to the scene folding out in front of her, she'll probably be getting her share of cooing and fussing in the break room with the other girls. ]
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[Truthfully, he wonders about that. Not because she seems like she's being dishonest; her smile is radiant as ever. He knows what false flattery sounds like, thanks to a slithery someone who produces his unit, and that's not the same impression her words give off. Rather, he's unsure because he could've sworn she disappears when she's not on-camera. And if he had to guess where she goes during those times, it'd probably be to see her manager and those twins, right?
But that's just a hunch he has. For all he knows, it could be wrong. Perhaps she has been watching him, and he just failed to notice her presence because she was at the back of the crowd, and he was focused on his acting during those times. That's a pleasant thought, isn't it? To think she watches and feels dazzled by him? Ah, but no matter how she feels when she watches him...
It can't compare to the way she looks right now.
There's that reaction again—the same radiant smile, but with noticeable added enthusiasm. A smile that truly reaches her eyes, causing them to shine brilliantly. Yep, there's no mistaking her heartwarming love for those two children.]
But they're probably too busy being fawned over to say thanks to anyone right now, though, right? Oh well. [He waves a hand.] I'm just happy I could put a smile on their adorable little faces.
[And hers.
It feels good, knowing he could make everyone in that makeshift family happy. Spreading cheer, spreading smiles, and spreading love is exactly what an idol does. And now that he's gotten the information he wanted—now that he's confirmed they liked their gift—that might just be a natural place to end things. He could stop the conversation, letting her use the rest of her break to see those twins.
But, as usual, he just keeps talking. There is, after all, one more thing he wanted to mention.]
It's good that you're teaching them manners, though! After all, it does no good just to spoil someone. Between you and their mother, I'm sure they're learning quite a lot about the world.
Though, I wonder who taught them that dance?
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That's what she'd been thinking, anyway. Hiyori seems nice enough and his interest in the twins doesn't seem strange or out of place when they've been hanging around and stealing everybody's hearts all during the shoot. But something about his question makes her stop dead. The smile doesn't leave her face but it flags just a bit. ]
Dance? [ She knows what he means, obviously. There's only one thing he could be referring to but – how could he be? There's no way he'd be able to recognize them from a video that old but if she plays dumb, will it be too obvious? It takes a second too long for her to decide but she quickly snaps the brightness of her smile back up. ] Ah, you mean – the one with the glowsticks, right?
[ Smile, smile. Maybe if she dazzles him enough, he'll stop asking questions. ]
I didn't think anyone still remembered that.
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Yes, that's the one!
[She looks confused for a second, or perhaps surprised, but there's nothing suspicious about that. He did refer to "that dance" like she'd automatically know what he's talking about.]
They say "the Internet never forgets," so I guess that applies here. The video's quite popular—so popular, in fact, that I stumbled across it by accident. The comments were saying "babies can't learn to do that, so it must be innate" and other things like that, but I don't really believe that sort of thing. Perhaps they watched a lot of dance videos while your manager was busy? Or perhaps she taught them the dance herself—maybe she hoped to surprise you at your concert?
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Hm. Saitou really might have her head. ]
Heeheehee, do you really think? I know Miyako-san spends a lot of time around talented people... so maybe it rubbed off on her and she passed it down?
[ She laughs a little and shakes her head, dismissing the whole thing as her own silly joke. ]
Now you mention it, though, I have to wonder! I was too surprised at the time to really think about it, but it's a little strange, huh? Do you think they picked it up from watching the other people in the audience with penlights?
[ That's as good an excuse as any, right? ]
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[He hums, tapping his chin as he considers her idea. Then he cheerfully concludes,]
... nope!
[It's not intended to be mocking. He doesn't mean to disparage her, but,]
Everyone in the audience was facing the stage, right? So they'd only be able to see the other members from behind. That wouldn't teach them how to make those same arm movements. Not to mention, they probably couldn't see people's arms too well anyway. In that stroller, their eyes would only reach up to about here or so.
[He taps his own thigh to illustrate his point.]
So, surely someone must have instructed them. Your manager seemed like the likeliest choice. Unless it was their father? Or someone else from the agency.
[He continues to speculate, a little surprised she never asked herself. Her overjoyed reaction from the video is seared into his memory; clearly, their dance left an impression. But then, maybe trying to figure out this is like trying to puzzle out the secret behind a magic trick: it sucks the fun right out, so it's better not to do it. Yep, he might have overstepped here. Should he apologize?
No, of course not. Instead, he throws up his hands as if to say who knows?, deciding to abandon the mystery for now.]
Well, no matter who taught it to them, they still deserve credit for learning any kind of dance at that age. Who knows—maybe they'll grow up to be stars like you did? That's certainly one way to "raise talent."
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[ Ahah, a perfect plan. She can
blamegive Miyako the credit and get herself nice and cleanly off the hook. Which means she'll have to actually remember to warn Miyako and get her up to date on the latest of the spicy lies Ai's been dishing out to her coworkers but she should be pretty used to having to improve and nod along with Hoshino Ai's latest nonsense by now. ]Either way, you're right. They're pretty impressive, huh? [ Grin, grin. This is one of the vanishingly few opportunities she gets to humblebrag about her kids, so of course she's going to eat it up. ] I guess when you spend enough time around people full of star power, it really does rub off on you. Maybe we could end up forming a unit together once they're a little older... aah, but would that count as nepotism, do you think?
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[Ha, ha.
Fortunately nothing about her demeanor gives him any reason to be suspicious. There's no way Ai herself was behind that dancing trick. Her reaction in the video made two things clear: that she never would have expected that, and that she truly adores those two adorable kids. It probably was Miyako-san, or someone close to her; there's no need to keep harping on about it.
He does wonder about her home life, though. If Miyako-san is just a manager, or if she's more like surrogate family. Which would make whom the nepotist?]
Ah, what a dazzling idea. So much star power in one place might cause a supernova! Though the three of you do seem like you'd fit oddly well together...
[This casual observation is dropped before he asks,]
Oh, but does that mean you'll still be working as an idol ten years from now?