#eight.

“What the fuck?” 

You grit your teeth, tensing your core as tight as you can, muscles taut in your thighs and arms as you try to pry the bowstring all the way back to your ear. Biceps tremble, and you give with a heaving breath, doubling over with a harsh pant, practically snarling at the Illyrian bow. “You can operate this fucking thing?” 

Cassian gives a low whistle, brows risen, an incredulous gleam in his lively hazel eyes as he pushes off from the oak he’d been leaning against. “You did good. Didn’t think you’d get it that far back on your first try. Here.” He reaches out, and you shove the bow into his awaiting palm, skin as rough as sandpaper. Cassian chuckles to himself, layering his hands atop the peak of the bow, resting his chin atop his knuckles as you remain doubled over, getting your breath back. 

His mirth circles in your mildly deoxygenated brain, and you narrow your eyes on him. “So you’re tough shit, huh? You’re like twice my height jackass.” 

“I said you did good,” he laughs, peering down at you. “Cool it with the shots.” 

You wipe sweat from beneath your jaw. “Cool it with the condescension.” 

“None found.” 

That pulls a low snarl from you, blood pumping round your ears, thundering through your heart. “Where’s a hatchet when I need one?” You mutter under your breath, pressing the cloth of your sleeve to each of your temples before at last forcing yourself upright. 

Cassian snorts, setting his feet equal distance apart. “Like a hatchet would do you any good.”

“What was that?” 

He lifts a brow, looking down at you. “You’d need the reach of an axe, sweetheart,” he repeats. “A hatchet would be a couple inches too short.” 

“Bet you know all about that, huh?” 

“Do I look like I ‘know all about that’?” Cassian drawls, wings stretching casually at his back, flaring wide over his shoulders. 

You cock your head to one side, arms folding across your chest, matching his stance. “So we’re having a pissing contest now, are we?” 

“Not one I started.” 

“You made the hatchet comment.” 

Cassian raises one of his hands, palm exposed but there’s challenge in his eyes. “I say I’m impressed you can even draw back the bow on this monster and I nearly get my head bitten off for it.” 

You narrow your eyes. “You said it with a tone.” 

“If you mean admiration, then sure.” 

You scoff, mimicking his voice, “‘Didn’t think you’d get it that far back’.”

Cassian smirks. “Look at you. Males my size struggle with that bow.” 

“Yeah?” 

“Oh yeah.” 

A grin teases the edge of your lips, heart still pounding. “You still struggle with it?” 

“Somethin’s tellin’ me this isn’t about the bow anymore.” 

You ignore the comment. 

“Try it,” you push, nodding to the weapon. “Go on, General. Give me a show.”

Cassian examines you for a moment—a trail of eyes that run analytically over your body, examining whatever he finds in your expression—until at last he gives, and straightens to his full height. Wings flex wide at his back, muscles contracting and tensing as he stretches before settling perfectly steady on his feet. For a figure that carries so much weight and power, it brings deep satisfaction to watch him perform with such brutal grace. 

Hazel eyes glitter as they catch your own, the corners of his mouth in a sharp upward tilt as he nods his head. “You gonna come round to the other side to get a real eyeful?” 

Affection curves your cheeks and mouth, breaths beginning to ease as you half circle him until you’re stood at his front, the grey-blue smudges of Windhaven huts silhouetted at his back. Snowflakes gently swirl in the wind, fluttering down to the sheer white blanket beneath your boots. 

Broad, calloused palms take a firm grip of the monstrous bow, raising it from the snow bed. His left hand takes a hold of the grip, right hand hooking his fingers around the bowstring. Cassian steadies his breaths, amusement settling into focus. Snow begins gathering on his shoulders, and his breaths deepen, air filling his lungs, distributing energy throughout his warrior’s body. 

A rhythm thrums beneath his surface—steady, faintly pulsing. On the sixth beat he inhales and draws, and you hear the stretch. The tension pulled taut all throughout his figure, the monstrous bow melding with his size and power. 

Hairs prickle along your spine, goosebumps freckling your forearms but you daren’t take your eyes off him. Not for a second. 

The beats tap away in the back of your mind, like war drums thundering off in the distance, counting: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine-

Mist seers from his mouth like the white smoke of a bonfire as all that power turns lax, Illyrian bow once again passive and facing downward to the white snow bed. Steam boils from his shoulders, energy simmering.

It’s your turn to whistle, low and piercing, and the General turns his gaze to you.

There’s a dwindling fire there, fierce and ferocious, and a small part of you aches to witness him as an opponent. To bear witness to him as an opponent.

Feel what it would be like to be on the receiving end of all that power, the other side of the bow.

Cassian’s grin is slow and half feral as he turns his body to face you. “Now what,” he drawls, cocking a brow, “does that look mean?”

A smirk tilts your lips, but you shake your head. “Female fantasies. You don’t want to know.”

“Fantasies?” Cassian muses, grin fading to something more subtle; something hungrier. “About me?”

“You want me to repeat myself?”

He laughs, slow and rich. “You’ve a nasty attitude, you know that?”

You study him: a force of nature jutting out from the barren landscape. Like a god who’s feasted upon the magic of the land to foster his own power. You push your tongue against the flat backs of your teeth, running along their lower line before responding. “I could be worse.”

“That so, hm?” Amusement tugs at his lips. “Sounds like I’m missin’ out.”

~~~~

a loud BLEEP is heard before the recording cuts to the start of the podcast.

yasmin: “hey guys! welcome back to yapstars, the hottest podcast going in your ear and out the other. i’m the head host in charge, yasmin ali and i’m here with the sexiest co-hosts alive.” she smiled, pointing at both women. “i shouldn’t be as smiley as i am right now, with this being our season finale and all.. but i’m just really happy that we actually made it this far. i know the hating dusties didn’t think we would, but look at ussss!” she grinned.

tiara: “hey sweetie pies! welcome back to yapstars!” tiara said while waving. “i’m excited. they might cry but i’m ready to get into the tea, like we have a lot to recap and then we’re going sing a song at the end.” tiara said while laughing. “also, check out our matching merch.” she said standing up showing off her top highlighting the design. “let’s get into this. cause we know yall love to yap.” sitting down she crossed her legs again.

chantal: she sat back nodding her head she watched yasmin start the show she smiled. “heyyy, welcome back. i’m actually so smiley right now just because i’m so proud of us. i can’t believe we made it to the season finale. like whoever doubted us. we did it!” she said chuckling softly before she raised her brow. “we singing a song? let me find out we got a song coming out i didn’t know about.” showing off her shirt she slid her hands under the logo and nodded. “get y’all merch! this about to be a good one.”

yasmin: she let the girls get their introductions off, chuckling once more. “waaaait, i can imagine it now. yapstars la diss track. us on the verses, tiara singing the chorus. waaaait.” she slowly nodded her head as the vision came to her, then laughed it off. once it was time to show off the merch, she sat up, smiling cheekily at the camera, and at the last second jiggled under her boobs to show off the logo. “get your yapstar merch, link in the bio. sexiest merch on the scene. sexy bitches and boys, cop up.” she advertised mid-way before sitting back. “we do have so much to get into, though. first things first— last episode.. whew! messy isn’t even the word. lowkey, i knew it was coming but i didn’t expect it to unfold like that.. thoughts, ladies?”

a loud BLEEP is heard before the recording cuts to a different scene with just chantal.

chantal: “this episode is brought to you by g-shock!” she flashed a smile while holding up her wrist to show off her watch. “you know when it’s time to clock some tea or you gotta get some time stamps cause you nosey.” she winked, tapping the face of her watch. “do it all with g-shock, the perfect time piece. keep you on time, accurate, and ready to catch any tea.” adjusting the watch on her wrist, she shrugged. “honestly, if you don’t got one, cop one. if you’re not tryna cop one, you’re just a lame. don’t stay lame. check em out now at gshock.com. and always be right on time for teaoclock.”

a loud BLEEP is heard before the recording cuts to back to the podcast.

tiara: “no, we do need to drop an ep. keep an eye out yall. we gonna do something new and fresh.” she said while waving. “chile,” leaning forward she side eyed them before laughing. “no shade, i was at the scene only because i dead thought that was a lie y’all. i didn’t think anybody spoke up about ryder so i thought it was a scheme but it was truth to it. i will say, i don’t know why i was tagged in it girl, but thank you for posting the screenshots. we needed that and i did respect it.” she said shrugging her shoulders. “but that shit got confusing mid argument i fake clocked out, cause like 5 different people got involved and i was just completely confused. but ryder really set the tone for us when we have another guest we’re gonna need all the tea, names and whatever else you got. cause like we said ain’t nobody gon beat yall up bout it.” she threw her hands up. “plus, i mean shit do be going on. but that shit? felt like a lot. so many people were in it and so many people were pissed, i’m like lord. i’m glad it was all on the floor though.” she said while grinning. “now, i just wonder what they gon think now. cause bitches be messy for real.”

chantal: “everything still doesn’t make sense to me, like i’m so confused on why it was so many people involved and what was the point. i definitely clocked out once certain people got involved and it went left. i’m confused on why yas wasn’t tagged! also, y’all too scary for me. running out of la the moment y’all friend expose y’all for being on some hater tip. we been knew and saw it from a mile away and it didn’t stop a thing. let that be a lesson to everybody that real always win.” she smiled at the camera then thought. “next guest got a lot to live up to. like no joke, that was so much. i wasn’t expecting it really, but i think it just gave everybody a reason.”

yasmin: “so, it’s safe to say— we were all confused. good, ‘cause i thought it was just me. it went from messy to sloppy sooo quick, i tuned out so quick.” she slipped in between, her ear perking up at chantal’s statement. “now, that part was funny. a bitch would rather eat her fist than tag me in something like that, and that’s nooo shade.” she covered her mouth, giggling. “no but all jokes aside, i do wanna clear that up, because the narrative that we clique’d up with ryder to expose anyone is crazy. we were as gagged as y’all were, hearing what ryder had to say. big shout out to her for laying everything on the floor, being bold enough to get her issue out ‘cause it’s a lot of people in the city who will have an issue and then scream in their pillow about it. she definitely set the tone.” she agreed with the girls, her head nodding before bringing her finger to her lip, biting on it. “i also gotta give props to ol’ girl.. ‘cause six bitches and a nigga versus one girl? and she was on timing, like she ducked no smoke. running from the city after all that was scary but i gotta give 6.5’s when they’re due, it take guts to defend yourself from that. especially with no help, ‘cause all the people that were supposed to speak up to defend her chose to whisper. i wanna hear y’all thoughts on that, because that was crazy.”

tiara: “yeah, but it’s because she tagged like twenty people and everyone spoke their piece but then chile..” she shook her head grabbing her cup she took a sip. “not why yas wasn’t tagged, maybe she thought her tag was yapstars.” she said laughing softly, nodding her head she agreed with yas. “no seriously. it gave like they thought we planned that, it was all organic. i’m proud cause everyone always beef up randomly but she just said what the truth was.” tiara said tossing her hands up. “pizza here.” she mumbled before getting up to grab one of the boxes she sat it on the table. “yeah she stood on business and handled it. i can’t even be mad about it but i’m saying, clocking out is real. cause it was a lot.” she said while rolling her eyes. “no shade, i feel like friends, sister or whoever else should’ve jumped in. especially since it was so many people on her at once. we’ve seen them cuss anons out daily but yall homegirl in the field and everyone just woke up like caresha?” tiara asked raising her brows she looked between the girls, grabbing a plate she placed a slice on the plate. “like dolce was in the field bout her friend, cause no shade don’t talk to my friend crazy bout shit. even when she tried to clock her tea, she like yeah i did that and what? that’s just mad real. speaking up for your friend is real, speaking up in general not even trying to jump in it but just showing like it’s some shooters out here. get near.”

chantal: “i think the whole la was confused. it made no sense and started going left. that definitely wasn’t the intentions here, but i guess when you’re messy you gotta prepare for anything.” waving off yasmin she chuckled and rolled her eyes playfully. “she had to think yapstars was yasmin tag. cause huh? i’m definitely happy ryder left it on the floor. like she so real.” her smile came across her face as she thought on it, using her index and thumb to tap together. listening to yasmin’s next set of words she shrugged and rolled her eyes quickly. “i guess. i mean when you ask for it, you don’t have no choice right? i’m not giving no more kudos to somebody who showed they true colors and showed they a hater.” leaning in to get a slice of pizza she nodded her head. “nah. let me tell y’all if these two ever did me how her friends did her? yapstars would be over forever.” she took a bite of the pizza and wiped her mouth. “nah that was definitely a real friend. and then to just nod and shrug when someone try to throw your business out there? so real. i know that had to suck, imagine liking a nigga and you find out he telling somebody y’all business. boooo!” she stuck her tongue out and put up a thumbs down and she giggled. “that was messy. like that gotta be the top level of messy if not, it’s up there.”

yasmin: “she did come for multiple at once, so everything was warranted but bandwagoning onto an argument with six girls and one nigga, kicking someone while they’re already windmilling is truly not my body.” listening to their reasoning, she scoffed playfully. “i was tagged correctly earlier that week when it was all fun and games, sooo.“ she giggled, giving the camera a look, before rubbing her lips together. listening to chantal’s side, she lightly smacked her lips. “chantal, c’mon. i can’t even sit and pretend like it was beef with her. and i hate that secret animosity narrative, ‘cause i don’t dislike quietly. unless y’all had a different history.” she threw her hand up, unknowingly, giving tiara a moment to get the food. she chuckled at tiara’s reply. “woke up like caresha is so funny, ‘cause literally. when i tell you, i would’ve been swinging on my own people next ‘cause excuse me? get y’all butts in the field!” she shook her head. “y’all, chantal been hinting about quitting the podcast since she came. likeeee what’s her deal? you know we got your back, honey.” she poked at the femme, with a playful smile. glancing down at her ipad while reaching for a chocolate covered strawberry, she took a bite. “no, really. that was painful to watch. boys be so loser in this city to women, it’s ridiculous. all in all, it was a lot going on. i hope lessons were learned, but more importantly, i hope we could put this whole sitch to bed. and one more thing, ‘cause this needs to be put to bed as well..” her words trailed off as she reached for the louis x murakami speedy, dangling to show it off. “y’all keep calling my girl unemployed, i couldn’t tell. louis v’d us just for the finaleee. yapstars pays, boo. checks have been cut. kill that narrative.”

tiara: “that is true. being messy comes with a price, i think people dead just messy for the love of the game. but when you’re messy you gotta be prepared for someone to name drop you.” tiara said while biting into her pizza. “cause if i told chantal some shit and she in a situation cause i told her somebody else business but they throwing her under the bus? ima expect her to name drop me.” tiara explained. “she always tryna quit. i’m not tryna listen to that.” she said shaking her head. “nah, i dead said if that was yall letting me go out like that? i would’ve been on the news. i’m not kicking it with bitches who hide when it’s smoke.” laughing she rolled her eyes. “i think chantal knew of her. you know she used to be on that other side of la.” tiara said raising her brows. she bit into her pizza again, nodding her head she picked up a napkin to wipe her mouth. “no, deadass. they dead always call me unemployed like what? bitches mad cause they gotta fake have a career for attention. like damn,” she said laughing. “and it’s so obvious when the same group of people are saying the same thing on my body like i’m having my way. why does my life or my employment even matter to strangers?” she asked shrugging. “checks been cut. been cleared. like know something,”

chantal: “while windmilling is crazy.” she said laughing as she thought on it. she smacked her lips loudly cutting her eyes at yasmin and waved her off for her comments before she went and agreed with tiara. shaking her head once yasmin spoke up again. “no! i didn’t have beef and like you said. i don’t dislike quietly, but that’s my thing. i hate actually showing love only for someone to hate me. secret competition is worse than someone just hating me. so when i say i’m not giving no props. i’m not.” she shrugged her shoulders and chewed on her pizza chuckling at their response. “i’m not threatening to quit! i’m just saying, like if y’all had me out there it would be problems. but i know y’all would never.” chantal chuckled seeing yasmin hold up her bag, she went to wipe her hands off and hold up her own. “my girl my girl ti! she loves us and she’s showing out, dead the rumors of unemployed. y’all just mad cause nobody let you look pretty and get money so easily.”

yasmin: “and that’s the real tea. being messy for shits and giggles? fun. but pleaseee be able to back it up. that’s all.” she agreed, chuckling along with chantal. “no shade.” she mumbled, turning to tiara. “i mean, of course but the fact that you was even able to grasp that.. like i lowkey still don’t even know what happened. it was just too much, honey.” she couldn’t get the statement out without a low laugh, shaking her head. pointing at chantal as she spoke, she nodded her head. “ohemgee, i was just saying that— i would hate to be in a girl’s face who secretly hates my guts. hating me is fine, just let me know so i can move along. so, i understand where you coming from. you don’t have to give props, though. this is just my take on the situation.” she clarified, shrugging as well as she gave a clueless look to the camera. she covered her mouth and let out a hearty chuckle at tiara’s words. “that other side of l.a got it! and that’s no shade, but my wife has visited the circus before.” she slowly shook her head, finishing her strawberry. “never ever, i don’t even play like that.” she added. smiling once chantal showed off hers, she eyed the bag once more before letting it sit on the arm of her chair. “exactly. have no choice but to work hard for pennies and look like it. also, heavy on the fake have a career, but we won’t wake that up. we know where the allegations really stem from, and that stem’s been cut, sooo. she’s good. we’re good.” she added. “anyways! this is a big coincidence because this was one of the topics of our very first yap session. let’s take it back to october. what was even going on in y’all mind when we first started doing this? ‘cause being real.. i didn’t think we’d get to this point or be this consistent.”

tiara: “and was.” tiara said laughing softly, she raised her brow listening to chantal, shrugging her shoulders. “yeah, but i think we just have to recognize the pattern. that for some reason people will think we feel a way or that we’re clocking stuff. but i don’t even know anybody’s name. i feel like for the most part we really mind our business.” she said shrugging her shoulders. “mind you, chantal doesn’t listen but that’ll be season two. i told her already next time…” she mumbled pointing at her. “thank you god. we would’ve never made it but we made it and i’m happy.” she said while smiling at the camera, she bit into the pizza. “hmm,” tiara bounced her leg while thinking. “i thought it was just gonna give us some girl chat time you know? i didn’t think it would turn into what it turned into. butt i’m happy it did. you always stayed on our ass bout recording days.” she said laughing. “i mean i’m usually home, you know. it was always one of yall, i’m just saying.” throwing her hands up she shrugged with a grin. “i knew we could if we just were all in it. plus, i feel like the city needed this a lot of different topics opened doors for people, made people feel something.” she said while shrugging. “did you think it’ll turn out like this?”

chantal: chantal looked between the two girls as they changed the topic, turning it back on her, she raised her brow. “oh…i’m getting jumped. i like being entertained. but then the circus got too much for me. so what did i do? step out and come back to the real world. and i couldn’t be happier honestly.” she said, her smile mirrored her true happiness as wide as it was. she chuckled listening about the debate of tiara’s job. already knowing who’d started talking about her in that manner she rolled her eyes. once yasmin moved into the next discussion point she chuckled and shrugged her shoulders. “i didn’t think we’d make it past episode one honestly. not because of anything but our schedules. we gotta give it up to our girl yas for holding it down and making sure we were consistent. mind you, tiara was always out of town and not telling us where. rewind and go listen to your favorite episode again. we mentioned that at least twice.” she snickered softly and twisted her lips. “this is fun to do and to talk. i actually really love the idea of a podcast so i’m just happy we could make something happen.”

yasmin: “but that’s the thing. i’m thinking everyone’s minding their business and doing them? but perhaps not. that’s why my first question will always be what is there even to hate on?” she replied to tiara. she chuckled at her response, shaking her head. “there will not be a next time. ever, hopefully.. no more clowns. but i’m really just happy that you’re happy.” she added with a smile. yasmin listened to both of their responses, lowly laughing and waving her finger side to side. “oh gosh, we almost went one episode without mentioning tiara fake trying to be ducked off. but i tried, i really did with coordinating and getting our butts in this studio to record. all of our schedules clash but we still made a way, and i’m sooo appreciative that y’all put up with me, my pushiness and my ideas. i love that y’all love doing this with me.” she placed a hand over her heart, with a cheery pout. “i didn’t think it’d go this crazy. i was doubting myself big time, but my support system was so strong, i wanted to deliver for them, especially for my boyfriend, because he really believed in me from the start.” she smiled warmly, her shoulders rising, blowing a kiss to him at the camera. “but now that you mention it, chantal— what‘s y’all favorite episode, forreal? so far, because i still think the best has yet to come.”

tiara: “it’s always like being entertained. like i said you don’t listen…or learn your lesson.” she said while laughing. “damn, not episode one.” she rolled her eyes reaching for her drink. “anyways, yall. she can’t live without saying something bout me traveling—it wouldn’t be an episode if we didn’t right?” she asked rolling her eyes. “i don’t know why you would doubt yourself—you love to talk and clearly we do too. awwwww, boyfriend shoutout that’s so cute. y’all should go back to episode one and put boyfriend in all the beeps. you’ll put two and two together.” she teased while grinning. “i don’t know. i think we’ve had some really good ones, i feel like no episode has been the same. the first one was really my favorite cause we dead had some tea to talk about like literally fell into our lap.” she leaned back, tapping her chin as she twisted her lips to the side. “hmmm. i wonder. i liked last episode too, having a guest was nice. i never thought we would invite someone on. remember when we played that game? that was also kinda fun, heavy on kinda. what was your favorite episode?”

chantal: “i do learn. eventually, why we not acting like i didn’t learn or something?!” she said squinting at them before she finished off her slice and then went to take one more to eat slowly. doing her best to not chew into the mic, she chuckled. “it’s the way you travel. always hiding like you wanna fight or something. location don’t be nowhere in la but let us ask and now we doing something wrong.” chantal smiled at yasmin finally mentioning her boyfriend. “woooow, look at that y’all. yasmin has a man! she has a boyfriend!” she playfully teased thinking on her favorite episode. “oh my god, we haven’t had a bad episode. my favorite though…maybe lil bitch sports. because that was needed and it became a cute hashtag for the time. like point out all the lil bitches!”

yasmin: yasmin immediately turned to the camera, shaking her head side to side as she mouthed the words—‘she does not learn,’ turning her head back to the girls before anyone noticed. “didn’t the fans vote on that, as well? it’s crazy, hopefully next season, we have some new ongoing themes.. that means change the behavior, ladies.” she said with emphasis, giving them each looks. “it’s less about loving to talk and more about keeping the audience’s attention.” she explained, her nose slightly scrunched at their reactions, letting out a nervous giggle. “can y’all stop? y’all really need to grow up, like seriously. and don’t do that. anyways, we all miss the bleeps, right? i’ma bringing that back next season, don’t worry.” she noted to the camera. “true, and it was good tea because it was a topic that needed to be addressed, like truly. the goal was always to bring on guests, it’s just.. y’all.. we’re all really picky.” she admitted with a chuckle. “that was fun and i loved lil bitch sports, it was so needed at the time and really gave hair salon talk.” she agreed, before pondering. “mine would be girlhood. that was the first time we woke up the shit that be happening in this city and i love when we do that because we experience so much weirdness and never discuss it. that episode felt like an outlet, like a release.” she admitted. “these episodes are so personal to us, because as girls who are.. usually.. very private, this is like the only peek people get into who we really are. what was the hardest aspect about the show? whether it’s something you shared, or something you were going through behind the scenes but had to smile and yap through?”

tiara: tiara turned her head slightly, shaking it once chantal said she learned. “y’all go places all the time and don’t tell anybody. weren’t you just in turks?” she asked looking at her, throwing her hands up again. “anyways, yeah i’m glad she finally saying boyfriend. this girl would die on a hill of no nigga like please!” she said laughing. “ooo, that was a good one.” she agreed nodding with chantal. “no, cause if i say who she wanted as a guest, it would gag yall and would have bit us in the ass literally. like my girl be having really good intentions, but chile.” she chuckled. “that’s a good one too. i like that for us. i like how we can really have open conversations about anything.” tiara complimented. “i think the hardest part for me was trying to balance what i wanna share vs what i don’t want to share, you know? i think i’m pretty private and i really don’t open up a lot. but i didn’t wanna hide too much, but at the same time; it’s just not in me to overshare,” she said shrugging her shoulders. “i feel like there was a moment when social media was going crazy and i really just didn’t care about a lot because i know the truth, you know? i’m not going to be on a stage spreading my pussy open telling my business. cause bitches believe what they want to but it’s like c’mon. we know the truth. i think people tried to twist a narrative so much and expected us to shout back the truth just to get us outta body.”

chantal: chantal scoffed at the ladies’ responses before she turned to tiara to raise her brow. “you see how you knew where i was. y’all tiara be gone and we have no idea where or who she be with.” she said speaking into the mic before chuckling. “boyfriend boyfriend boyyyyfriennndd” she said mocking yasmin before she stuck out her tongue at the thought. her brow raised and nodded. “yasmin guest list a lil funny…i’m picky with guest for a good reason. i’m just happy that’s not a thing anymore. only the realest guest. the first one set the tone reallyyy. and i’m not just saying that..” she listened to tiara speak and answer the question, laughing softly at her she nodded. “spreading pussy is crazy, but yeah definitely deciding what i wanted to and didn’t want to share. specifically about my last relationship. especially when i decided to break up with him.” she shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly. “like the last few episodes maybe the last two? before the ryder one. when y’all would bring him up i kinda would just haha but also like..knew how i felt so that was hard. but anyway! we’re moving on. that definitely was hard for me to deal with while filming cause y’all loved to tease me like yo..please. i’m thinking about so much and y’all was just giggling. what about you yas?”

yasmin: yasmin looked in between the girls before giving the camera a look, reaching for another chocolate strawberry to snack on during the back and forth. she couldn’t help but chuckle at the comments made, reaching out to lightly push chantal at her mockery. “as i should’ve. niggas do not deserve to get claimed until they deserve to get claimed. that’s how you know if a man cuffs me, he’s the goat.” she said slickly, sticking her tongue out while biting down on it. “oh my gosh.. y’all, in theory— it would’ve been a good idea! i was this close to making that call too but i’m thankful for fate and my homegirls’ discernment.“ she admitted, giggling to herself as chantal boasted about the guest. her attention turned to tiara once she answered the question. “that’s true, it’s really hard to balance because you wanna be personable and let people get to know the real you, but not necessarily put your personal life in the spotlight. as if you had a choice, ‘cause your tea was still out.” she added in, teasingly, before chantal spoke up. “damn, girl. and mind you, we wasn’t sparing you with that relationship, no shade. like it was all shade in them jokes, so it really must’ve been tough just laughing it off. but, i think you needed that tough love to help you face the tough music.” she reasoned, before answering the question. “the hardest part for me would definitely be separating yasmin as the creator & host of yapstars and yasmin, the poppin’ girl from chicago. a lot of times, i have to put the brand first and it comes with a lot of self-sacrifice. whether it’s ignoring things, not getting up here and ranting about certain situations or people, or being the unfiltered girl that got me the notoriety in the first place. or it’d be times where my personal life has taken a hit, but i still have to get up here and make sure things are running behind the scenes and with a smile for these cameras.“

tiara: “from social media. we move tho.” she said while shrugging, laughing as chantal dragged the mention of boyfriend out. “yeah, i think the idea was there like you know, it wouldn’t hurt but man. that would’ve been a bigger mess.” tiara said shaking her head, picking up another slice of pizza as she listened to chantal. “nah, i feel you. cause like yas said, it was always some jokes. so it’s crazy you just haha and nodded. but, i don’t know! it was just bad chile. it was just some tough love and you came to that conclusion by yourself.” she said while smiling, biting into the slice while listening, chewing her food she nodded before speaking. “nah, it is hard to separate the two but you don’t wanna be too different that people can’t even see the real. i always think that people want that reaction, they want that coke rant, they want to seem like they are the center of your life or making shit happen the whole time, this ship moving with or without a hoe.” she said shrugging her shoulders. “it’s hard but no shade, we gave so many people the platform to speak. if they weren’t talking to us nobody would even care about what they gotta say.” she placed her pizza down, picking up her drink. “i honestly think as a group we handled a lot well, we showed up for the pod and nothing was ever one sided. it was really a group effort and that what makes it work. the collab aspect of it. literally a team.”

chantal: “i mean that’s means this one is speciallll.” chantal teased before putting the boyfriend teasing to a rest for sure. she smirked and looked at yasmin. “and this goes back to one of our other episodes. who’s the friendliest? it’s yasmin. i’m friendly but do not trust easily. yasmin was finna invite…nevermind. maybe one day we’ll tell y’all.” she joked and smacked her lips. “y’all it was haaarrrdd.” she had a playful pout on her lips. “it wasn’t even tough love they were just mean and i didn’t tell them anything because it would’ve influenced my decision. had to keep it 100 percent authentically me. despite what people think.” she said rolling her eyes. “i feel like you act the same on and off the podcast though, you might be a little rougher around the edges when it comes to real life, but you’re authentic and you through and through.” she said commenting on yas. “she’s hella professional for sure too. my yas, i love that for her. she really got into her podcast bag. i can’t wait for our next season. shes gonna show y’all even more. actually all of us will.”

yasmin: yasmin lowly giggled at chantal’s remark, shaking it off. but as the two girls ridiculed her potential guest idea, she smacked her lips before deeply sighing. “it would’ve been messy but luckily, we were saved by the bell. i am not! don’t worry, you know i love a good poll. we’re gonna ask the people. ‘cause y’all are the only ones who think that! aht! yeah, watch it please, i would’ve brought back bleeps real quick.” she said, following up with a ‘tuh’ and a chuckle. she pouted lightheartedly at the topic and chantal expressing herself. “it was love and it was necessary! but she did make her decision all on her own, i don’t like that narrative either. ‘cause if we had anything to do with it, it wouldn’t have even—.” she paused, holding her hand up, not wanting to rehash it. “moving on.” yasmin nodded in agreement with tiara, letting a chuckle slip at her last comment. “and that’s no shade, as braggadocios as it sounds. that’s why we get antagonized and poked at a lot, which circles back to the wanting a reaction, wanting that moment.” she said, nodding throughout her sentiment, until chantal spoke up and her brows crinkled a bit. “did she just call me rough around the edges when i’m literally a sweetheart?” she raised a brow, asking the camera specifically, before signaling to the engineer to cut this part out. “uhm, but yeah, real authentic! i just treat my social media like the confessional room that it is.” she carried on, warmly smiling at the compliment. “aw, thank you wifey! and yes, i have so much planned and we’re gonna come harder than ever. trust. so let’s plant the seeds now before we go. what’s one thing you want to see or hope for the next season?”

tiara: “you know i love calling yall friendly. and then the examples really just fall on my lap, cause if we say who they might point and laugh at our girl.” she said while laughing softly, listening to chantal she nodded her head. “i agree with you heavily.” she replied, everything she said hit it right on the spot. “the antagonizing is mad funny. i remember one time krue was like ‘you know they’re rage baiting you?’ like well, yes, but i was still mad! i’m the easiest to rage bait, please,” she said laughing, tapping her chin, she raised her brows. “mmm, i would wanna see us have more guest, already said that but honestly some more segments like touching on more real life conversations even if they are older. i feel we do a good job with recognizing trends and what needs to be said. but it’s so much girl code, girl talk conversations to have. i wanna have it to where [BLEEEEEEEP].”

chantal: chantal chuckled and quickly went to turn in her chair, getting another piece of pizza to chew on as the others spoke. watching as yasmin went to cut something out she raised her brow. “girl you be ready to fight. rough around the edges. why we cutting stuff out?” she said, going to explain herself a little more before she laughed. thinking back on their podcast she nodded her head agreeing with tiara. “more guest, more segments. i want [BLEEEEEEEP].” she tried to think, taking her time to eat some more pizza in between her thoughts. “i honestly can see us doing so much with this. like it’s only up from here. this is the first season. not the last.”

yasmin: “i could never be pointed at or laughed at.” she pointed out, giving tiara a look before waving them off. listening, she chuckled in reference to the comment, smoothing over her hair. “i’m glad he sees it but like yeah, we know they are, and they doing a damn good job, we be mad as shit!” she covered her mouth as her laugh continued. she then smacked her lips in response to chantal. “no, i do not! but even then, who said sweet girls don’t fight? i have an image to maintain, watch out, forreal.” she held her hand up, before flipping her hair, snickering throughout. “i agree, actually a lil’ too much ‘cause these were definitely some of the ideas i had. like y’all are giving away the goods so if you’re listening right now, i hope you enjoyed those bleeps.” she remarked before letting out a deep sigh. “ohemgee, guys. it’s the last close out.. see, this is where i start crying.” she pretended to fan her eyes, sniffling. “if you made it this far, throughout the episode and stuck with us the entire season— shout out to you! thank you so much for riding with us this entire season, through all the ups, downs, and non-stop talking. let us know what you wanna see from us next season. which guest do you wanna see in our hot seat? what segments should we add? let us know! as always, i wanna thank the sexiest and most irritating co-hosts alive, for seeing this through with me. is there anything you wanna leave our yappers off with one last time?”

tiara: “hot topics like a little segment where we do it at the end? i wouldn’t mind that so the whole interview doesn’t have to be like that.” she said nodding her head while smiling. “my homegirl think nobody can laugh.” she said while looking over at yas. “so you wanna be outside rumbling? chile.” she said squinting her eyes at her. “please! cause i’ll actually cry.” she said laughing. “i would just like to say thank you so much for joining us this season. it was very special to all of us, a great idea turned into a big platform for some real bitches to keep it real. no shade.” tiara said while smiling. “i’ll also like to say i hope you all stay tuned and look forward to the next fun thing we throw at y'all! this is for the real ones who really get us and not wanna hate us. i love you all.” she said blowing a kiss at the camera. “we’ll see you next season!”

chantal: “yeaaah. or even at the beginning and we relate it to our lives or something.” chantal laughed at the fact that yasmin would bleep out some of their ideas, rolling her eyes. “well! i guess you guys will just have to see what’s coming up next on yapstars. yasmin might show y’all a lil throwback video of her tussling so y’all know not to play with her.” she smirked, giving both the girls a side eye. “they aren’t gonna cry. at least not on camera.” she playfully rolled her eyes and took a moment to think. “thank you guys for listening! we truly do appreciate everyone for tuning in week by week and coming to hear us yap—and yapping with us. be ready for bigger and better coming soon, because honestly it’s coming and it’s only up from here.” she winked and waved at the camera. “love y’all. see you next season!”

yasmin: "tiara know i don't be outside rumbling, 'cause she out of all people would be right next to me. rumbling, too. hello." she pointed out, with a chuckle. "can y'all stop? one lil' comment and now i'm mini muhammad ali. well.." she paused, considering the last names, then snickered. she let the girls say their own final sentiments before pausing momentarily. "and that's a wrap. well.." she looked between the girls. "it doesn't have to be. i think you guys could just.. come see us on tour, at a city near you! yes, you heard it here first, yapstars is going on tour-- hostings, meet and greets, panels. all brought to you by g shock. we have so much in store for you guys this summer. real motion never slows up, so come get lit with us, whether it's at the club or at a theatre, where you can join in on the yap session this time! tickets will be dropping soon, so save those coins or ask that man.. 'cause i know y'all are hiding one, too. so, it's not a see you next season. more like a.. see you very soon, sexy bitches. i'm yasmin ali and thank you for listening!" she blew one of her signature kisses to the camera.