In The Spotlight

The studio lights overhead bared down at Tuckyr Gainsboro like a pack of agitated Beowolves gnashing their teeth in anticipation for the kill, and while staring directly into the lights was more due to the butterflies he felt fluttering beneath his armor and deep in his stomach, he couldn't help but bemoan that the slight irritation from the minute self-inflicted blindness was more painful than catching a claw into his eyesocket.

His eyes flicked away instinctively to preserve what remained of his ability to see without the need for glasses, trailing along the large studio room where he had been watching the live broadcast of the VNN Nightly Edition. A crew member had sat him down just to the immediate right of the main stage, where the lovely Lisa Lavender was finishing up the top stories for the night.

Tuckyr cocked his head slightly as he watched her work, enraptured by how elegant and sophisticated she looked in her usual outfit, how she made that black and purple ensemble work for that body almost made Tuckyr salivate then and there. It left just enough for his imagination to fill in the blanks, and boy, did he have quite the active imagination. Yet, there was more to it than just how fine Lavender looked that drove him to tune in every day to catch his lady love on the air, there was something to how she spoke every word, lingering on just the right syllables to make chills cascade down his spine. To hear her say his name in her soft tone, even once, he would die a happy Gainsboro.

So, when he was picked by his gracious team to give an interview on their behalf and that of Beacon, he had almost fainted in shock and joy. It was an overload of emotion, one that had stuck around and gestated to the present, as he tapped his boot against the metal leg of his chair, a flurry of thoughts racing across his mind as he listened in to Lavender sign off for a commercial break.

"...We'll be right back after these short messages with our exclusive interview with the leader of Team SALT." The red recording light on the camera in front of her slowly faded off, letting everyone know that they were off the air for the moment.

"Four minutes, Miss Lavender." A stage hand called out from somewhere out of Tuckyr's line of sight, he watched her nod in response as she stood up from her chair, no doubt to stretch her legs. And what a pair of legs they were! Tuckyr forgot himself and stared dumbfounded at the wiggle in Lavender's step, until the owner of said legs was standing above him.

A quick clearing of her throat snapped Tuckyr out of his reverie and he looked up to find himself in the presence of beauty incarnate. Honey-yellow eyes burrowing into his own. He could only stare back, mesmerized by how they seemed to shined.

"You're the Gainsboro kid, right?" The question was blunt and helped to ground Tuckyr in reality, though it took him a few moments to even dare to speak. He wanted to memorize every detail of how she looked Not wanting the moment to end. "Tinny?"

"It's T-Tuckyr Gainsboro actually," His voice cracked in his nervousness, something that quickly brought red-hot shame to his face. Luckily it wasn't too noticeable. "Of the Gainsboro family, we're pretty famous."

"Really?" She asked, an eyebrow raising in her questioning. How he loved when she ended a revealing expose or scathing criticism with that very same look. "This is the first time I'm hearing of them."

"We've been quiet lately, obviously I'm here to make sure people remember." His cockiness shined through the haze his crush brought on and he finally worked up the nerve to smile and wink at Lavender. "And if it gets my face out there for all the fine ladies watching, well, that's just a bonus."

"Right," Lavender nodded noncommittally. Tuckyr could see he had obviously stunned her into the same stupor she put him in. She'd be all over in no time. "Have you ever been on air before, Tuckyr?"

Tuckyr pursed his lips, trying to think back to any similar situation before shaking his head. "No, this will be my first time. Hopefully you're gentle with me."

That managed to garner a short laugh from Lavender, a slight quirk of amusement lingering on her lips. "Don't worry, I think you'll do more than fine."

"Two minutes, Miss Lavender." Another stage hand warned Lisa as the crew began to set up to broadcast once more.

"Well, Tuckyr, looks like we're going on. You ready?" Lavender asked, giving Tuckyr a sly wink. "Maybe you can stick around afterwards, I'm sure you have some interesting topics for me to explore."

Tuckyr almost choked on his own tongue as Lisa Lavender turned to walk back to her seat, definitely moving her hips to give him a sense of what they could possibly discuss after this interview.

He eagerly stood up and went to follow her into the spotlight.

"Tuckyr!"

"Oh, Tuckyr!"

"C'mon, Tuckyr!"

Tuckyr Gainsboro found himself pushed off of his bed, his back meeting the carpeted floor of his dorm room. Dazed and groggy he dared to open his eyes to meet the sunlight filtering in through the window, just above him was the face of his partner, Laura Evergreen. There was noticeable bags underneath her eyes that made Tuckyr stare at her inquisitively.

"W-what?" He asked slowly, still half-asleep. He managed to sit up, cupping his face in his hands to block out the offending light. "Where's Lavender?"

"Lavender?" Laura questioned with a bemused chuckle. "As in Lisa Lavender?"

"Yeah, I was doing an interview with her. Totally was going to see the news booty." He struggled to get to his feet, luckily Laura helped to balance him. "It was going to be amazing."

"Sorry to say, Tuckyr. You were having a dream." Laura frowned, never wanting to be the one to deliver bad news. "You know you talk in your sleep, right? You almost kept us all up last night."

"Ugh, I'm sorry." He mumbled halfheartedly. Letting out a soft exhale in his disappointment, he made his way towards the door.

"Wait, where you going?" Laura asked, a little concerned for her partner and his well being. She didn't want him to be moping around during class.

"I think I need a shower," Tuckyr sulked passed the door, before continuing his thought. "And then I'm going to watch the news, 'kay?"

"Oh, damn you, Tuckyr!" Laura cursed, chasing her partner out into the hall.