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The Red Couch Photo Shoot: Behind the Scenes
Sorcerer Weekly invited our four Fairy Tail main ships to do a series of similar photo shoots. After Nalu, Gruvia and Jerza, it's Gajevy's turn today.
As it's an image campaign for the whole Fairy Tail franchise, Hiro Mashima is present at the set, too, nervously pacing the dressing room as Gajeel and Levy walk through the door. Might he be having a premonition that this is not going to be an easy photo shoot?
The moment Gajeel sees Mashima's sketch for the photo to be taken of him and his girl, he knits his pierced eyebrows. And when he spies the outfit which was prepared for him, his face drops entirely.
Gajeel: No way! I'm not wearing a pink bunny polo and khakis! You want me to look like I'm going to church mass on Easter Sunday?!
Levy (sceptical): Pink is really not quite your colour. But-
Gajeel: Keh! Over my dead body! I'd rather pose naked.
Levy (gently puts her hand on his arm): You know, I personally wouldn't mind you posing naked at all, but that's probably not what the editors are aiming for this time. Please, Gajeel... I don't like the outfit either, but this is the only type of job we can do together right now, and we still need so much stuff for the baby.
Gajeel (gruffly): Pretty big talk for someone who's allowed to wear their usual stuff.
Mashima (sweating heavily): We're going for a more family friendly approach with you. To point out how likeable you are. The nice wizarding couple next door.
Gajeel: Likeable my ass! Black Steel Gajeel is anything but a nice guy.
Levy: Of course you are - if one gets to know you better. Much better, actually.
Gajeel: You're making me the laughing stock of the whole fandom! Worse, everyone I know'll see that. (runs his hand across his face) Sting and Totomaru will be laughing their asses off for weeks.
Levy: True. And just think of Juvia paying you back by teasing you about that shirt all the time in the guild hall. Or Mirajane imitating you wearing it.
Gajeel (sinisterly cracking his knuckles): My reputation will be screwed if I put that crap on. So forget about it. Now.
Mashima shrinks back, a feeling of mortal danger rising in his chest. His left eye starts to twitch wildly as Gajeel closes in on the sketch and studies it thoroughly.
Gajeel: And what about that pose, eh? The Salamander and the ice guy both had a freaking lap dance, and even Erza got some snogging. (rests his arm on Mashima's shoulder) Believe me, man, Lev and I could show you things on that couch that would make even you pervy old geezer blush like a virgin.
Mashima (uneasily frees himself, his face all purple): Yeah... Well... You know, this is also an image campaign for Fairy Tail. We want to cover a bigger range of emotions for our readers, like portraying different stages of a relationship. So we chose a funny approach for Natsu and Lucy, a sexy one for Gray and Juvia, we were aiming for romantic with Erza and Jellal, and we want you to close the series with a comfortable, domestic feeling.
Gajeel (raises an eyebrow): ...
Levy (suddenly angry): Domestic? What do you want to indicate? That a woman should stay at home and depend on her man as soon as she is pregnant? Oh, and that she can no longer stand by his side, but should better stay behind him? I think that the pose you picked for us is highly questionable from a feminist perspective, too.
Mashima (wiping his forehead with a handkerchief, muttering to himself): What do I create characters for if they won't do what I want anyway?!
Listen, guys, I gave you a pretty hard time finding your love for each other back in the main series. You know, those 'enemies to lovers', 'unrequited love' and 'bad guy turning good through love' tropes our readers enjoyed astonishingly much.
So with this photo shoot, I just wanted to give you an opportunity to show the world how deep your bond goes, how close you are to each other against all odds. I made you two the first major couple to actually be together to give people hope. You show them that everybody deserves a second chance and to be loved by someone. I thought this pose would express deep, true love and trust better than any other, with you holding each other tight and looking in the same direction. A fairytale's happy ending.
Levy (with tears in her eyes): Oooohhhhh... I didn't know. I'm so sorry for making such a fuss, Mashima-sensei. Of course we'll do it. Gajeel, get changed already! I'll be ready immediately, just give me a minute. (hops over to the dressing table to freshen up her hair and makeup)
Mashima (looking at her in disbelief): She's pretty emotional these days, isn't she? Changing her mind quickly.
Gajeel (arms folded, nodding): Hormones... It's like a rollercoaster ride. Takes more than pretty words to convince me, though.
Mashima (sighing deeply): I got it. What's your price?
Gajeel (sniggering): Geehee. Now you're talking my language, mate.
Just so you know: If I do that shoot, I'm not doing it for you, but for that annoyingly cute shrimp over there, 'cause I'll do anything for her. Even make a complete idiot of myself if she wants it so.
But you still owe me a good hard fighting scene in the manga for that, to restore my reputation. And don't ever dress me in pink again, or all your series will stay unfinished due to the author's premature death, got me?
Mashima (dashes for the door as quickly as he can): I'll see to it - as soon as it fits the plot. (exit)
Gajeel (strides over to Levy, leans over her from behind, whispering): And now to you, shorty. You owe me something for this, too. I want a second photo shoot. On our couch. With you in the outfit we talked about earlier.
Levy (blushing): You mean-
Gajeel: Yeah. Exactly. I want nothing but your bare skin on you. Now, let's get this over with.