“Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the Winter Season of ‘Home Cooking and Chill!’” said the host, spreading his arms across a pristine white table. “I am your host, chef master, and all around BFF, Justin Zhang!” He lifted a hand dramatically to his side, no doubt to frame a moniker to be added in post production.

Cary was getting flashbacks to her on-screen production with Odila, to the point that she needed to remind herself over and over that, no, she would not be suddenly shoved on stage to help with cooking. And a good thing too, because her brief respite at home gave her precious little time to decide what she was supposed to wear to a backstage recording where no one would see you anyway. Two changed shirts later, she was still somehow fifteen minutes early and long since regretting her t-shirt and jeans twice over.

“Now then! They say sweet dreams are made of this, but I have a mind to disagree,” said Justin, giving a white toothed smile, “because this season, we’ve got my absolute favorite of favorites, DCT’s one and only, Sweet Dream!”

“Hiii everyone!” said Lori, all but skipping into the camera light. It was very much not her normal gesture, but something about the swing of her breezy skirt and apple-cheeked smile made her no less adorable for it. “My name’s Lori, and I’m so, so excited for a big season of big treats!”

“It’s scary how stage ready they can be at the drop of a hat,” said Cary to herself, watching as Lori smiled, and laced her hands as Justin ran through the program. To think, just earlier that day, Cary was thinking about how modestly mature Lori was. Now, she could adopt an energy as bright and extroverted as Iona.

“Not everyone has Lori’s talent,” said Serafine behind her, a pensive look upon her face. “She has a wealth of experience and a determination unparalleled. Isn’t it sad that she’s still overlooked?”

“You guys really are full of surprises,” Cary said, crossing her arms with a sigh, which made Serafine respond with a curious look. “Oh, I guess I was having a similar conversation with Lori about you earlier.”

“Really! How flattering!” Serafine gave a very deep chuckle with closed eyes. “I can only hope that two great minds could have passed a kind word on---”

“Applegate, loosen up!” barked a voice from behind the two of them. “You’re look like you’re dissecting a frog up there!”

“Ah! I’m sorry, Evans,” Lori said, her face instantly dropping to her natural weight. “I’m still getting used to doing a show like this unscripted.”

“Which I buy,” answered the man, whom Cary assumed was the show's director. “But could you cut the bubblegum fairy act at least? I know you’re representing the rainbow squad themselves, but we’re gonna die of diabetes.”

“Really, Evans? You’re going to start bullying the new girl already?” Justin asked, straightening himself up to full height. “Aye yi yi. Lori, mind taking ten? I need to talk nice with our director.”

“Yes, thank you,” said Lori. “I was too embarrassed to ask.” Her last words were cut by a buzz from the crew panel, and a small shuffle echoing from the crew. With it, Justin exited from the stage, as Lori let out a long sigh, surprisingly collapsing even further than before.

“You doin’ all right, Lori?” asked Cary, following Serafine’s smooth glide to Lori’s side in front of her. “Looks like this setup is kind of an adjustment.”

“Oh, it is,” Lori said, as Serafine placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “The director’s harsh, but he does have a point--I can’t really consolidate all of DCT into Sweet Dream, can I?”

“There’s no more difficult a role than to play yourself,” said Serafine. “I’ve no doubt that once you’ve adjusted to the scene, you’ll shine all the brighter for it.”

“They really should have brought you on, instead,” said Lori with a sad smile. “You’d be absolutely darling up here! You and Justin charming the pants off each other for a whole season. You’d be a smash.”

“You...flatter me beyond words,” Serafine said, looking an odd combination of flustered and disappointed. “But I really think…”

“You’re doing yourself a huge disservice,” Cary finished. “That director was way out of line. You’re not ‘bubblegum pop’. You’re a good, mature person.”

“But he's not wrong,” Lori said, shaking her head. “I was playing up a little too hard.”

“That’s not the point!” Cary said in exasperation. “You're calm and you have your act together, and you deserve a little more respect than to be jerked around and made to fit whoever’s favorite flavor of pretty lady is.”

Lori looked at her for a moment in honest confusion, then quick as a beat broke into a smile. “Sharp words!” she giggled. “You better not let the director hear you, Cary! Or he’ll drive you off the backstage in a huff.”

“Kah ha ha! Then he’ll be driving me out not far behind!” A loud laugh caused Serafine and Cary both to turn and see a friendly wave from the host. “Cool Dream and the Dark Princess of Work herself, yeah? A pleasure to meet the two of you.” He caught Cary's hand in a vigorous handshake before she could react.

“I’m not the Dark Whatever Princess,” Cary said, dropping the man a glare. “It’s Cary Rivera.”

“Miss Rivera then! A pleasure,” he said with a nod. “I am Justin Zhang, as you’ve no doubt heard me trumpet over the stage. Fresh back from giving the director a shake of my little finger--index finger of course, ladies present and all.”

“I didn’t know the host had the power to scold the director,” said Cary. Unless I’ve run into my first actual diva, she thought.

“I’d think anyone has the power to scold anyone,” said Justin with a barking chuckle. “But more importantly, I’m not just the host. I’m the executive producer--and industry term that means I pay from my own pocket and get the final say.”

Goddammit, Cary thought. “Then I take back what I said,” she said quickly. “After all, I’m the outsider here.”

“Relax! Just because I’ve got a sack of cash doesn’t mean I don’t have a heart of gold,” he said with a wink. “A good host never makes his guests feel unwelcome on his show, yeah? Relax and have fun, and the viewers will too!”

“You seem quite generous with your flattery as well, my good man” said Serafine. “But I’ll take your word at its sincerity. Lori is a cherished member of DCT, and I’d ask you treat her with care you’d give to each and all of us.”

“God, have I mentioned I love the way you talk?” said Justin. “Can’t understand a lick, but I love it! And of course, Lori, you know that I’ll take a bullet from any director for you, right?”

“Will you be alright, Lori?” Serafine asked again, seemingly ignoring Justin.

“I will. And thank you, all of you,” said Lori. She gave another wide smile, but her eyes were closed, and there was a restrained tiredness to her voice. “The show must go on, right Justin?”

“Right you are!” Justin said. “Alright everyone, let’s get ready for another take!”

His smile was, again, toothy and bombastic, and Cary couldn’t help but feel like he wasn’t forcing it. But something about Lori’s posture--hands tucked in front, soft smile, shoulders sloping down to accentuate her petite frame--seemed like she was holding in something deep and painful.

It left Cary feeling strangely anxious as she walked back into the shadows of the viewing. Feeling a soft hand rest itself on her shoulder, she could tell that Serafine felt the same.