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Lied had his plans for the day. Sure, they were the same plans as always, namely polish his speedruns. However, those plans very quickly got derailed when he got a call not from Crocell’s manager but from another Evildoll manager, one he’d never even heard of.
So here he is. Standing in the dressing room, dressed in a frilly black and yellow outfit. He didn’t even mean to agree but he somehow still did. He’s scared Crocell might just kill him for performing with another company, then again this might be a small company, and she might never find out.
His hopes quickly get crushed when Mother fucking Beeber comes barging through the door.
“My dearest Lindy! I was so excited when I heard you agreed to be here!” He says, extravagantly as always. He didn’t even bother knocking.
“Why are you here?! Also, knock! I could’ve been changing!” Lied says, jumping back. He only barely doesn’t slam into the wall.
“That doesn’t matter! I was sent here to practice our choreography! Have you got the notes yet?” Beeber asks, completely brushing off Lied’s comment.
“Yeah, I looked over it. Wait, we’re performing together?” Lied asks in disgust.
“We are! It’ll be the performance of a lifetime. I mean, with your cute but abrasive demeanor and my irresistible charm, we’ll be unstoppable!” Beeber says excitedly as he drags Lied out to what can only be the practice room.
“Not irresistible, I resist it. If anything it repulses me” He says, looking quite unamused but still letting himself be dragged.
Beeber doesn’t respond and just keeps dragging Lied.
Their rehearsal goes surprisingly well, especially given that Lied saw the steps literally 5 minutes ago. If Robin taught him anything it’s how to learn 10 things at once.
“That was wonderful! Now you just need to add personality. Lindy, give is more of that tsundere act, Beeber, I need to see more winks, more flare. Have some banter, some shoving, leaning. Go again” Beebers agent says before starting the music again.
Lied does not appreciate his distaste for Beeber being called a tsundere act but he’ll just have to deal with it. They both take the notes but before they can even finish their song it’s time to get on stage. Lied is absolutely dreading having to go on stage in front of possibly thousands of demons. He however has no time to complain as Beeber is already on stage.
“Good evening everyone! Tonight we have a special guest. My adorable Lindy! Don’t tell her I said that” Beeber says with a wink as the audience goes ballistic.
Lied doesn’t even fully process what’s been said before he’s ushered on stage.
“Beeber! You better not be calling me cute! I’ve told you, I’m not cute” Lied tries his best to push the ‘tsundere’ act as Beeber's manager put it. He doesn’t fully expect the crowd to begin cheering loudly after that, and can’t help but blush.
“Don’t cheer for that! I’m not cute!” He says, partially trying to act cute, but also trying to get people to stop cheering. It’s embarrassing.
The crowd only goes silent once the music starts playing. Lied almost immediately trips over the heels he’s wearing, and lands right in Beeber's chest. His face lights up a bright red before shoving him aside to continue the dance.
Every time the crowd cheers Lied just has to pretend it’s because Beeber just did something charming. Not that he thinks Beeber’s charming, not at all!
There is one part of the routine that doesn’t fail to make his face go fully red. Near the end, Beeber picks him up and carries him bridal style as he’s supposed to try and escape but fails before the final move where Beeber dips him, and their faces are so close together they might as well be kissing.
Now what’s supposed to happen is that Lindy shoves him away and rushes off stage, Beeber following behind with a shrug and a meek smile. Lied, however, gets his moves screwed up due to the fact he basically just kissed Beeber, and rather than just rushing off normally, he wraps his tail around Beeber’s wrist, dragging him along with him.
It catches Beeber off guard but he still shrugs to the best of his abilities as Lindy drags him off stage.
“That went well! I can’t believe this is only your second performance, you’re a natural” Beeber says, beaming with excitement.
“Really? I messed up like half my moves, probably more” Lied says in disbelief. He’s leaning over, trying to catch his breath for the life of him, but the air is not coming through.
“That doesn’t matter. What matters is that you were adorable! The crowd was cheering for you! I’m looking forward to performing with you again! Now, I do have to go on again in about 10 minutes after Kuromu does her routine, so I have to run to get my makeup touched up” Beeber says before running off to Devi knows where.
“... Kuromu’s here?” He asks basically no one since the room is as good as empty.
His question is answered as he hears Crocells voice booming on the stage. He decides it’s probably best if he goes back to his dressing room. On his way there he gets stopped by Beeber’s agent.
“Oh, Lindy, get rid of the stage makeup, you’ll be doing a meet and greet with Beeber later so tone it down a bit, alright?” She says before continuing onwards.
He has to do a meet and greet? With Beeber too? He’s dead. He goes back to his dressing room defeated. He does do what he’s asked and redoes his make-up. The only reason he knows how to do make-up is because he used to help his mom before she left. He has no clue how he’s going to survive a meet and greet. He doesn’t even have a signature as Lindy. Evildolls sign things, right? Maybe he should practice.
As he’s practicing his signature Crocell practically breaks the door down.
“YOU,” She says, ice beginning to form all around the room.
“Crocell! Hey, didn’t realize you were here! Hehehehe” Lied says with an awkward smile as he tries not to freeze.
“You performed, with another company?” She asks, her face stone cold with anger.
“I didn’t mean to, it just happened” Lied says, trying to back away further than he already has.
“And with fucking Beeber out of all people? Do you realize how much better you two perform than me?! First Iruma and now you?” She yells, clearly extremely frustrated.
“... You think we perform well together?” Lied asks, becoming ever so slightly relaxed, but absolutely not fully.
“Your dynamic is better than me and Gyari’s! You can’t outshine me on your second day!” Crocell complains. Though she seems to be complaining to the air more than Lied.
Lied can’t help but be confused. “Our dynamics are basically the same!” He exclaims.
“Yeah, but you actually perform together. Me and Gyari have a whole story but you have to do research to know it! You entered the stage and everyone immediately knew what was going on!” Crocell complains as the room grows colder and colder.
Thankfully before Crocell can complain any further Beeber’s agent walks in “You two! The meet and greet is in 2 minutes, get down” She says, shooing both of them out of the dressing room.
Lied is just happy to escape Crocell. He feels lucky to see her booth is not even in view of his. That luck is immediately trampled when Beeber shows up. He does smile slightly remembering he can pester him in the slightest. Sure, he’d rather avoid him like the plague but what can you do?
“The crowd was so disappointed when you didn’t show up for my second show. You really are amazing” Beeber says in an oddly genuine voice.
Normally he talks in a way that is impossible to decipher whether he’s joking or serious. He sounds so genuine now. His voice feels almost smooth to Lied’s ears. Speaking of Lied’s ears, they are currently red, along with the rest of his face.
Before Lied can reply, the crowd of Demons comes to meet them. He struggles with talking to people, luckily they seem to love his flustered and annoyed combo. She makes sure to occasionally flick Beeber in the back of the head, making up whatever reason she can.
After what feels like a whole day, she’s finally let go. She heads back to her dressing room to change back into her normal clothes.
“When did I start seeing myself as a girl?” She asks herself. It was odd, she didn’t dislike wearing a dress, it was more the length that was a problem. She likes the way the pigtails look on her, she almost wants to leave them on, but she knows she has to return them to the company.
As she’s about to put her shirt on Beeber walks in completely unannounced. “Hey, Lindy… oh!” Beeber says, seemingly surprised by Lied’s appearance.
Lied, surprisingly, doesn’t care that Beeber walked in on him changing. She’s far more interested in the fact that Beeber looks like he has boobs in the sweater he’s wearing. He also looks completely different, he looks tired and like he just rolled out of bed.
“I should be saying oh! I- where were you hiding those?” Lied asks, not even bothering to put on her shirt.
“The same way you hide that, I think…” Beeber says as he gestures to Lied’s crotch.
“I highly doubt it. Now why are you even here? Don’t you want to go home?” Lied asks as she finally puts on her T-shirt.
“I got a care package after the show with a pre-release of the next Franklin Bloody game, was wondering if you’d wanna play together, it’s multiplayer” Beeber offers as he holds up said game.
Lied’s eyes light up. “No way! I wouldn’t be able to afford this until like, next year! Even later if it’s a huge hit!” She says excitedly.
“You have a Pryer? We could play at your place, I have one at home too if you’d like” Beeber offers with a gentle smile. His voice is soft again, just like earlier. He’s almost a completely different person, not that Lied’s complaining.
“My sister’d kill me if I brought home a guy before she does. So let’s go to your place. Is it far?” Lied asks as she packs up the last of her stuff, which wasn’t much anyway.
Beeber shakes his head “It’s a 10-minute drive. Did you drive here yourself? We can take my car, if not” He offers as he starts to walk to the car park.
“I don’t even have my driver's licence, let alone the money for a car,” Lied says, amazed at the fact Beeber can drive.
“I mean, your paycheck for this performance would be enough to buy a low-tier car. Maybe a Bream? You could probably get a Reaver if you sign up with my company, we’re some of the highest-paid evildolls in the netherworld” He explains all too casually.
“A Bream is like… 2000, are you telling me I’m getting paid 2000 for this? That’s more than my rent!” Lied says, completely astounded.
“I think more… It’d be way more if you joined,” Beeber says with a wink.
“You just want to do more performances together… Though saving up to buy a house does sound enticing” Lied says, genuinely starting to consider joining an evildoll company.
“... You don’t have a house?” Beeber asks, seeming completely shocked.
“We’re living off the money I win from the occasional gaming competition and my sister’s, like, 4 jobs. We can’t exactly afford a house, let alone groceries sometimes” Lied explains with a shrug.
“That’s horrible. Now you need to sign up! I can’t have my soulmate not be able to afford groceries!” Beeber says, praying he used soulmate right. It’s only been a term for a few months.
“How about this? If you beat me in a game of your choosing, I’ll join your company, otherwise, I’ll join Kuromu’s… If they’ll let me” Lied says, hoping that threat has any tangibility.
“Deal. I’ll tell you what we’re playing when we get to my place” Beeber says confidently as he opens the door for Lied.
After a few minutes they arrive at what Lied can only describe as a mansion. She stares in awe at everything as they walk towards what she was assuming to be Beeber’s bedroom. Turns out, they were going to his designated gaming room.
“How rich are you?! This is more games than they have at the gaming battler!” Lied says, going around, staring at all the different games.
“Yeah, I get them gifted a lot. Now, about our bet. I challenge you to a speedrun of Diamond heart neutral ending” Beeber announces proudly.
“An Otome? That’ll take ages! Why not, like, a rhythm game?” Lied asks, extremely confused.
“To be fair it’s the only type of game i really know how to play, plus i’ve memorised all the answers to get the neutral ending” Beeber says with a proud smirk.
“You are so boring, but a bet is a bet. Bring it on!” Lied says as she tries to figure out where to sit.
Lied’s speed reading abilities come in handy for once, so he doesn’t need to spend ages on actually reading the dialogue, which there is a lot of. Sadly, after a long 3 hours of gaming, Beeber is victorious and Lied’s only halfway through the game.
“That was an unfair battle, respect” Lied says, extending her hand to Beeber.
“I just wanted to make sure I can spend more time with you. Seems I succeeded. You wanna play Franklin Bloody now, or maybe eat first?” Beeber offers as he gets up, stretching his arms.
“I’m starving. Do you have anything? I could also order myself take out if you like too” Lied asks, also stretching before getting up.
“I would never make you buy your own food, or any food at all. I pay on dates, you live in an apartment, you need to save money” Beeber declares as he begins walking out of the gaming room.
“That implies we go on dates” Lied says before following Beeber out the door.
The two walk to an absolutely giant kitchen. “I have leftover pasta if you want it. Unless you’re vegetarian…” Beeber says as he scrounges through his fridge to try and find anything.
“I’m chill with pasta. Not vegetarian either, I do oddly have an allergy to chilli peppers, and only chilli peppers, so unless it’s spicy, i’m good” Lied nods with a meek smile. She already feels like a burden.
“I can’t handle spice at all. So we’re good!” Beeber says as he puts the container in the microwave.
Once the pasta is done heating up the two head back up to the gaming room. They play Franklin Bloody, and by that I mean Lied absolutely carries Beeber through the game. They don’t get far before Beeber gets utterly worn out.
“I think I’m done for the night. It’s pretty late, too. Do you want me to drive you home, or would you prefer to stay here? I have a spare room, false, I have 5” Beeber offers, trying to rub the tiredness out of his eyes.
“Is it okay if I stay here? I don’t really want to get an earful of my sister when I’m this tired, I’ll do that tomorrow” Lied says, putting down the controller.
“My clothes might be big on you, but they should work as pyjamas” Beeber says before leading Lied to one of the many spare rooms.
“My room is the one on the end of the hall, it has my name on it, so call me if you need anything. Goodnight Lindy” Beeber says as he’s about to go to his own room.
“Lied” Lied corrects without even thinking
“... What?” Beeber asks, stopping in his steps.
“Lied’s my real name, Lindy’s just a stage name” Lied explains with a meek smile.
Beeber chuckles “Beeber used to be my stage name too, then I just changed it. Anyway, goodnight Lied” He says before finally walking off to his room.
“Night!” Lied says as she enters the room she’s staying in.
Once she’s changed into the ridiculously oversized clothes of Beeber she’s about to go to bed, but not before checking her phone, to which she sees roughly a thousand messages and calls by her sister. She doesn’t want to call her right now so she just sends a text back.
‘I’m fine lmao, be back tmr’
And she falls asleep before she can see any of the next thousand messages by Shakky.