#submitted work

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Ariana Griande waved and smiled at her audience, giving them butterfly kisses before going backstage. She sighed and fanned herself, controlling the urge to put her cold hands on her face. She needed to keep the make-up on to see the patrons later on after all the performances were done. Someone approached her, wearing black and headphones on, and motioned her to follow them, concentrated on the notepad. 

She hummed and walked towards probably one of the assistants the open bar hired. Her plate-formers thud against the wooden floor, desperately trying to ignore the ache that came with wearing them for a long time. They went to the general dress-room, one of the girls finalizing her outfit and wig. When she spotted Ariana, she flushed and immediately went back to adjusting her wig. Ariana huffed, flicking her ponytail on her other shoulder, and sat down on the seat the assistant gestured to.

“You have ten minutes to change before going in the audience,” they said in a monotone voice.

Ariana smiled, big and saccharine. “Thank you, sweetie.”

They cleared their throat and left the room, followed by the girl. When she was finally alone, she groaned and resisted the urge to slam her forehead on the counter. She grabbed one of the mini-fans, and got little-to-no cool air from it. So much for a warm reception. It happened every year, and she kept wondering why it surprised her. Performing during the summer was hell incarnated. 

No more dilly-dallying, she took her outfit for the rest of the evening, and in less than two minutes, she was reapplying her make-up, adjusting her wing, and winked at herself in the mirror. The door slammed open, making her squawk. She turned to see who it was, ready to murder them until she saw that famous moustache.

“Mumbo, you scared the shit out of me,” she said, a hand on her chest.

He gave her a sheepish smile. “Sorry, I just wanted to tell you that you were amazing back there.”

She grinned. “No duh, I am a professional.”

Mumbo rolled his thumbs nervously. “Well, yeah, but I figured a compliment wouldn’t hurt.”

Ariana walked towards him and wrapped her arms around his neck, a smug look on her face. He squeaked and his face became red. 

“That’s so sweet of you, Mumbo.” She gave him a kiss on the cheek, holding her chuckle when his ears became red. “Always the gentleman.”

Mumbo nodded vigorously, not getting away from her embrace but not touching her in return. She let go and walked pass him, waving goodbye. 

“I’ll catch up with you later, yeah?”

“Y-yeah,” Mumbo swallowed loudly, voice an octave higher. 

Ariana giggled and left, finding the main floor of the open bar. She really didn’t want to deal with the heat, but she was paid by the hour for this event and no way in hell she was giving up an opportunity like this. She plastered a sweet smile on her face, making sure to exaggerate the swing in her hips and to show her leg in the split of her skirt. Some were whistling when she went more outside, but most were eyes glued to the performance. 

Ariana slightly pouted when most weren’t paying attention to her, so, out of curiosity, she glanced at the stage. Ariana has seen a lot of performances, but what she was looking at was above and beyond. Flowers of all kinds of colours in the wig, a mix of pastel and saturated colours that somehow fit perfectly well together, a shoulder piece that framed her head while her arms were covered in vines and leafs, mini skirt to let her move her legs. But that wasn’t it all. The way she danced and lip-sync was over the top, even for the upbeat song. 

There were queens out there who liked being extra and flamboyant, it just wasn’t Ariana’s style. This queen right there took the flamboyant definition and dialled it up to a hundred. She was wearing legs braces, which seemed to be painted in this orange-pink gradient like the rest of the outfit. She seemed so free in her movements, so expressive, so in her element, Ariana wondered how she’s never seen her before. 

Something touched her bare shoulder, making her yelp and swivelled to slap the person who dared to touch her. She stopped when she realized it was only Mumbo. 

“Stop scaring me like that,” she hissed under her breath.

Mumbo raised his hands in surrender, grimace on his face. He mumbled apologetically and pointed at the queen performing.

“Do you know her? I wasn’t there when they announced her name.”

Ariana shook her head regretfully. “No, never seen her.”

He hummed. “She’s quite impressive, isn’t she?”

Ariana turned her head slowly to her friend, a smirk on her face. 

“Well, well, well, it seems Mister Mumbo Jumbo here does have a favourite.”

He squeaked, face red, shaking his hands and head. “N-no! That’s not what I was implying—”

She put her finger to his nose, bouncing it right back. “I was just teasing.”

He laughed nervously only to abruptly stop. She frowned and looked back at the performance, only to realize the queen was approaching them with a sway of her hips, lips moving to the lyrics. Her mouth opened when she saw her up front. She was stunning, and Ariana saw many stunning queens in the industry. She was right on top of the list currently. Ariana didn’t care if the queen had a larger form than the stereotypical feminism or that even with the makeup, she could see that stubble. 

The flower queen placed her hands on the table Ariana was leaning on, circled her hips and winked at her with her mouth as well. Ariana wasn’t one to blush easily, but she felt her cheeks warming up and the smug look Mumbo sent her. The queen turned around them, making sure not to touch them, but also getting in their personal bubble. Ariana wondered how long this song lasted until the queen finally left them for the stage, finishing the song.

She waved her swooning audience goodbye before going backstage. A volunteer appeared on stage, microphone in hand.

“Good Times with Scarlet, everybody!”

Mambo elbowed her, wiggling his eyebrows. After feigning pain at her friend’s jab, she scoffed.

“C’mon, you saw the way she was looking at you!”

Ariana crossed her arms. “I am still on the clock, Mumbo.”

“Just saying,” he said innocently, diverting his gaze.

She shook her head and went back to entertain the patrons of the bar, going inside and outside occasionally. The queen was still at the forefront of her mind, getting her distracted a lot of times, but the impression show between the other queens were also very auditory distracting. Still, Ariana was good at her job, and she will get paid after the end of the night. 

Except, that didn’t happen. A lot of things didn’t go her way, but she didn’t regret this one. Because in the corner of her eye, after Mumbo left, Scarlet was leaning against the door that lead to the backrooms, a smirk on her lips. She wasn’t wearing the shoulder piece or the flowers in her wig, but was still wearing her flamboyant leotard. 

Ariana took her expression as a challenge and went towards her, grin on her face. Scarlet was slightly towering over her, which made Ariana glad to keep her plate-formers.

“Well hello there,” Scarlet greeted, a mischievous glint in her green eyes.

“Hi beautiful,” Ariana tilted her head, grin widening.

“You’re quite gorgeous yourself.”

Ariana hummed in thought. “Yes, I could tell your eyes were devouring me earlier.”

Scarlet’s smirk only became sharper. “You can’t blame a woman for having taste.”

“No, indeed,” Ariana replied. She went closer to her chest, fingers brushing against it. “Can’t let it go to waste either.”

She made sure to pout and give her puppy eyes. Scarlet let out a laugh (oh god, that laugh had no right of being this beautiful), and leaned closer to her face, hand on her bicep.

“And where would the gorgeous songbird prefer to show her potential?”

A shiver ran through her spin at the nickname, cheeks becoming warmer. She wouldn’t let her seduce her to submission, so she copied her smirk and brought their face close enough for their nose to touch. 

“Don’t worry your little pretty head about, and leave it to Miss Griande to take care of you, hm?”

Scarlet’s face blushed and nodded slightly, making Ariana chuckle. She might not get paid, but she’ll have one hell of a night, and she’ll guarantee it for both of them.

(Verse 1)

People come and go

Some are friends but others are foes

There are times,

When we feel no one truly knows us

Whatever you say, is twisted

You are shown as the offender

When you try to defend yourself

Your kindness is your weakness

No one understands that it’s your uniqueness.

  (Chorus)

That is the price of innocence

One has to pay

Then have sleepless nights in dismay

Or become someone’s easy prey.

They hate you for who you love

And harm you like a hunter does a polite dove.

  (Verse 2)

They question how much you deserve

And if you are authentic enough

Compel you to finally give it all up.

They make your life worse than hell

And still have the nerve to ask

“Are you doing well?”

Your innocence becomes your biggest fear

You break into a 100 pieces

And shed a million tears.

  (Chorus)

That is the price of innocence

One has to pay

Then have sleepless nights in dismay

Or become someone’s easy prey.

They hate you for who you love

And harm you like a hunter does a polite dove.

  (Bridge)

Game after game, test after test

Exploitation to the level

When you think you are worse than the rest.

Fight after fight

No one ever holds your hand tight

An isolated pupfish you become

They don’t let you run

Trigger their gun whenever they want

And shoot their hate to your heart.

You feel you are not good enough

And your heart is not that tough

And of course, the road is way too rough.

All day, every day, your mind shouts

“I have had enough!”

They haunt you in your daydreams

And become your worst nightmare

No one understands that you are so rare.

In your minds and hearts they dwell.

  (Chorus)

That is the price of innocence

One has to pay

Then have sleepless nights in dismay

Or become someone’s easy prey.

They hate you for you love

And harm you like a hunter does a polite dove.

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Prompter Response: A very relatable song/poem. Innocent people always seem to be the first to become people's punching bags until they just aren't innocent anymore.

Hope you enjoy it

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I made Karaoke Kitty a brother! It’s Disco Dog! :D Do you like him, Melvin?

(@alpaca-keeper )

Your target lounged on the sofa, guards completely down. Perfect.

 “Hey papy~” you simpered, desperately trying to keep calm and collected.

 The sprawled out figure turned his attention to you. “Yeah, honey?” he asked, bone brow quirked up in question. He looked at your hands behind your back, obviously holding something. His grin widened.

 “You know how its over 100 degrees today? How you can’t go outside without melting?” you smiled innocently.

 “Reason I’ve been staying inside darling.” Papyrus said. One look at the mischievous glint in your eye told him you were about to do something but he didn’t know what yet.

 “What if I told you that I have a way to beat the heat?” your smile grew larger as you thought of how to proceed with this plan of yours.

 Papyrus hummed in contemplation, eye sockets momentarily shut as he pretended to think. You took your chance.

 An ice cold stream of water shot at Papyrus, startling him off the couch. You kept shooting at him, until his tank top was thoroughly soaked and clinging to his ribs.

 He laughed, and used his magic to pry the water gun out of your hands. You giggled helplessly trying to keep the gun in your grasp, inevitably failing as the pistol flew over to Papyrus.

 You tried to run away but didn’t make it out of the living room unscathed. Your back was dripping wet, and as you paused to see the damage done, Papyrus took this chance to get you back.

 He squirted at your chest, head, and stomach until the gun was empty of water, all the while you were laughing, squirming to get free.

 “Dang, no more ammo.” you panted, taking the weapon back from his hands. “I found them at the store shopping with Sans on the clearance aisle, so I thought ‘why not?’ and got them.” You explained, wringing out your shirt.

 “You know what the best part is?” you questioned. “There’s two of them.”

 Papyrus looked like a kid on christmas day.

 “Really?” He asked, perma-grin stretching to impossible levels.

 “Yup!” you answered. Your smile was almost identical to Papyrus’ at this point. “And…” you paused for effect, “... the other one is in your room. Fully loaded.”

 Let the games begin~.

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Its fluffy Swap! paps!  This is the first time I've ever written him, I hope you like it! Also, its not exactly a drawing, but I hope it still counts?

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MK Says:

This was so cute I now have a cavity excuse me while I lay down in a bed of my own feelings and attempt to recover