Scene 2 – Acting is the New True

The cast was going over their lines. The cameras were getting ready for rolling, however it is that cameras 'roll'. And I'm standing where I'm supposed to be at holding this Arceus-dammed boom mike. Bob's clearly not going to even 'help' me, let alone actually do the work with me helping him!

I may not get all of this equipment but I have an idea of what we're doing. This seems to me like we're doing a play, but on TV. I know plays cause I seen some of them in my time. Before everything for me went down with heavy shit.

Anyways, in a play, everyone rehearses, check measurements for and create costumes, and memorize the lines anywhere and anytime they can. There's also only a certain amount of time before the official performance. We're doing all of those things here in the set, making me think of this as a play put on TV.

The cast members who are going to be in this televised performance are going over their scripts one last time before we film them, Ricardo the Charizard included. Figures. Pokemon actors and actresses were taught how to read. That way people don't wear out their throats and themselves reading it to them and then trying to make them understand it.

The director came over to the set and told the cast members to take their places. There was a set-up like a fancy but weird kitchen in pure white surrounded by light blue walls. A tall, scrawny man with short hair on his chin sat down on the round table in an egg-shaped chair. He clutched a newspaper and a pen in his hands. A gorgeous woman with long, blonde hair and an hourglass figure climbed some stairs in the back, next to one of the walls of the kitchen.

"Lights! Camera! Annnnnnndd…. action!"

Not gonna recite every little line or announce every little detail of the thing. Here's the general plotline of this new TV show. A hot woman is married to a geeky kind of guy. He becomes more and more concerned about work and the woman starts to feel neglected. Then her sister and her Charizard moves in the neighborhood, being the couple's neighbors. They notice her predicament and decide to have some 'fun'. The hot woman is blackmailed into doing whatever it is they tell her to and they enjoy torturing her. While the hot woman deals with all of this, she has to keep all of it a secret from not only her husband, but also from the married couple with an adult daughter and teenage son.

It was a very long day with constant callings of 'Cut!' 'Action!' and 'Make-up!'. Lights had to be adjusted for every scene. There were even the threat of technical difficulties.

By the end of the day, a couple scenes were done. Everyone on the set estimated if we do this as the same rate as today or even faster, then the whole episode should be done in a few more days. After all, everyone wants to spend a maximum of a week per episode.

I really don't like that Ricardo all that much. I got that impression of him when I was sucking yet another cock during one of our breaks when everyone took five. It was a Politoed this time. He likes that I hold his 'hands' as I suck. Though I do that cause I found that, if I don't, Politoed gets kind of handsy and I don't want that. I keep that to myself, of course.

As I sucked the decent-sized piece of meat in my maw, my half-open eyes caught a glimpse of orange. Out of the corner of my eye, there was that Charizard. We picked a place where we would be covered but I guess not. On the bright side, he seems to be the only one there and we're still covered. I guess that means we're exhibiting ourselves now that I realize it. I may have been far away but it felt he was disapproving me from the distance. It also felt like something else, too. I couldn't put my claw on what, exactly.

I just shrugged at that and continued on my quite frankly suckish life. What I couldn't shake off was that feeling Ricardo was purposely not being himself around others.

I was proven right when we finally reached the last scene of the first episode. Otherwise known as the sex scene.

The sister of the blonde playing the neglected beauty had short, black hair and average-sized breasts. She's Ricardo's trainer in both the show and real life.

The dark-haired sister and Charizard were going to torture the blonde sister. I won't get into details of that but I will point out Ricardo's behavior. He looked fucking scary when he rushed his cock into that girl. She even said it felt like he didn't give a damn about her for real; that's how rough it felt to her. It didn't cause any bleeding or anything – we used fake blood for that part – but it was still rough. His face showed glee during that scene. It was undeniably true satisfaction. When it was done, he looked a little irritated. Probably because he had to go back to being nice.

I'm certain of it; Ricardo's putting on a nice guy act on purpose. And he's really good at it, too. No one suspects him of anything. Not even the girl who said it felt like he didn't give a crap about her during the sex scene. Everyone just thought he was a lovable, jolly giant who gets too deep into another character.

Well, it's not like it's any of my business. As much as I don't like the charade, it doesn't involve me. I learned a while back to only care about my own business. It's fine to intervene in someone else's, but only if they're friends or family. And even then, you may or may not be restricted in how much you can do.

Then I came across the possibly hidden bastard himself. It was the next week when they were getting ready for the second episode.

I was alone, getting the boom mike myself. Bob was busy again getting as fresh as spoiled fish could get. When I opened the door, I heard someone in there. That someone sounded a lot like Ricardo.

"Yeah, I know, Mike. It's shittin' boring in here. All the people here are fuckin' faggots. And their pokemon are as interesting as Magikarp. At least I got to fuck the pussy of that whore I was telling you about. At least my trainer, Star, can pick some good pussies. I can't believe I had to come here to use its video phone. I didn't think this room would have one. Lucky for me no one else is around. Are-"

That was definitely Ricardo, talking into a video phone with someone else. Someone else who knows Ricardo is a two-faced bastard.

I thought perhaps I should leave and wait a few minutes but the door suddenly opened before I could do anything. Ricardo was there.

Then he put on the sickeningly sweet smile Ricardo was well-known for. Out through his lips were sweet talking on the same level of sweetness as his smile.

"Hello there! How long were you here? Is there anything I can do for you before you go on your way?" I can see his mouth twitching while Ricardo forces it to stay on his face.

I decided to not let on that I know; Ricardo could threaten or blackmail me to keep quiet. I'm sure he's more than capable of doing that if he managed to function a video phone by himself. Unless this 'Star' turned it on and put someone on the line for him, not that many pokemon can't use complex, man-made devices.

Without feeling my expression change, I responded like how I've always answered questions. "I came here for a boom mike. If you would move now, please?"

"Ah, yes, of course." Then he moved aside.

I came in, got the boom mike, and was heading out the door. Ricardo spoke up before I got away.

"You're not saying anything more?"

I stopped and turned around. "What are you talking about?"

"Usually pokemon and people have something to talk to me about. It happens so often I barely have time to rehearse."

"Then lucky you. You'll have a little more time. I just came here for a boom mike." I began to walk away again, feeling his eyes on me as I went.

After that, I felt eyes on me the entire week. Ricardo's probably trying to make sure either I really don't know or I do know and I'll blab about it. I never blabbed about it. So, hopefully, he'll think I'm oblivious.

Ricardo has talked to me a few times after that, much to everyone's, including Bob's, surprise. Bob said whatever I've done to get his attention, I better keep doing it. I guess no problem about that. I've done absolutely nothing at all. That's what I've told all the female pokemon when they ask me what I did to get Ricardo's attention. Like right now, dealing with a Purugly who's had eyes on the male in question.

"You just had to have done something other than that! It sounds like you didn't do anything at all!"

"That's because I really didn't do anything at all."

"LIES!"

This shittin' sucks. I'm stuck here having to deal with this bitchy kitty and I might not get dinner tonight, which would have been provided by another male pokemon belonging to someone who works here on the set. In the distance, there's also a Shelgon, Salamence, and West Sea Gastrodon; they're female pokemon who also have had their eyes on Ricardo.

"Ok, fine. I came up to him and I told him I was getting a boom mike. Happy now?"

"That's it!? Get a boom mike!? That doesn't sound special at all! Ricardo is sweet, caring, generous, all-time hottie! Where do pokemon like you get off treating him like that!?"

Times like this I feel tempted to ruin their lives and tell them how Ricardo's really like. But then I decide not to. I realize I just feel this way whenever I deal with bitches. All in all, it's not any of my business to tell them. If Ricardo wants to pretend to be nice, then that's on him. All his choice. So I keep quiet about it.

I say instead, "Where do pokemon like you get off being jerks?"

"You're asking for a Slash attack across your face!"

"Do that and I'll be a Night Daze attack just waiting to happen."

Just when it looked like Purugly was going to Slash attack my face, a Miltank came up to me. She was another one of Ricardo's fans.

"Zorah! Just the girl I wanted to see!" She makes it sound coincidental that she ran into me. She glomped me and clung to my arm as she said the words.

"What do you want, Miltank?"

"Oh, don't be such a downer! You got that Ricardo talking to you! It's always us taking to him first. What's he like? What are his interests? What would his ideal gal be like?"

Wow. She didn't beat around the bush, did she? At that moment, I felt the same eyes I've been feeling all week intensify. Well, all I can do is answer the questions.

"Answer to the first question: when we meet, he would be polite and nice and stuff like that. Answer to the second and third questions: I don't know."

Miltank failed in hiding irritation in her face. "What do you mean 'I don't know'?"

"As in I don't know. I don't know why I should care about what a celebrity likes. It's not life-altering information. Go ask Ricardo those questions. You said all of you talk to him so it's not impossible."

"But he talks to you first. Doesn't that mean he tells you things about himself?"

I then get up and walk up to the new bitch in my face, the previous one still waiting for a chance to Slash attack my face.

"Listen here, Miltank. Ricardo may or may not talk to me about himself. But you don't talk about yourselves to someone else every single time you talk to them. For example, you talking to me right now. But you're not going to talk about yourself to me, are you? Nope. You're gonna get information about Ricardo the amazing, well-spoken, gentle Charizard out of me." I got close to her face for this statement. "Guess what? I'm not gonna help a cowardly cow who can't even ask a guy some simple, harmless questions."

Man, Miltank was mad. Her face was very red. Her teeth were grinding each other. Her little paws were curled up tight until they turned white. Her eyes were filled to the brim with anger.

But before anyone can do anything, someone grabbed my arm. Miltank and Purugly gasped. Whoever it was, they must be important if those two calmed down and have abandoned all thoughts of killing me. I turned my head. I gasped, too, but only out of surprise. It was Ricardo who took hold of my arm. He's dragging me somewhere, too.

"Hey! Where are you taking me? There's still 10 minutes before we have to start shooting again, you know!"

"I know but it's important."

We walked until we came across an empty room. I think I have an idea what it is he wants to discuss with me.

Ricardo closed the door. He locked it, which scared me a little. He came up to me. He opened his mouth to speak words. And then….

"Would you suck me off?"

That was unexpected. I honestly didn't see that coming.

"Where the hell did that question come from?"

"I saw you one time. With a little, green and yellow Pokemon."

"He's a Politoed. And I set up a deal with him before I sucked him."

"You mean you give yourself to men in exchange for things? That sounds… not very chaste."

That didn't sound judgmental at all. "Don't judge me, you damn dick."

He didn't like that. "Watch it. You're talking to Ricardo the Charizard. The pokemon who won the media Pokeaward five years in a row."

"You watch it. I don't need nor want your criticism. Just because you got fame and anything you want doesn't mean you get to be like a bastard towards everyone you meet, even if they don't know it."

He became wide-eyed at that. "You know? You know I just pretend to be a goody two-scales?" Then his eyes narrowed. "You did hear me that time when you got yourself a boom mike."

Oh, fuck. That last part slipped. I acknowledge that may have been stupid on my half. Now I have to deal with a potentially dangerous character whose every action will be full of genuinely harmful intentions. I really don't like how Arceus is screwing my life right now.