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Language:
English
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Published:
2025-03-21
Updated:
2025-04-07
Words:
5,407
Chapters:
6/?
Comments:
5
Kudos:
8
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2
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292

The White Tigress Caper

Summary:

June 2024, Philippines. For their first duo job without anyone else from Team Confidence on the ground as backup, Makoto and Laurent must pose as an engaged couple at Manila Pride in order to defraud the lonely heiress to one of Singapore’s oldest and most luxurious jewelry brands: Ms. Jeannette “Opal” Fong of Snowglass. Seems easy at first… until Makoto starts to get a nagging feeling that Cynthia and Abigail might be sabotaging them from the shadows. As if that wasn’t enough, Laurent is also struggling big time with his role—completely unable to charm or disarm their mark in any way. And so, what exactly is Edamura Makoto, of all people, supposed to do in this situation, huh?

Notes:

ESTIMATED FINAL LENGTH: 10-20K WORDS.

ESTIMATED NUMBER OF CHAPTERS: WHO THE HELL KNOWS.

Chapter 1: #0 THE PLAN

Chapter Text

NOTES:

The Official White Tigress Caper Writing Playlist

MAJOR INSPIRATIONS:

(0) “OPAL’S” RELEVANT FATES/ZODIACS:

  • Ms. Jeannette (Ono) Fong
  • Chinese given name: 莉利絲 (“Lyris/Lyrica”)
  • only child
  • dad died when she was a baby (overdose), mom was supposedly a nobody, according to her grandma, but was in reality a sex worker (died in childbirth)
  • raised by paternal grandma; her dad was the youngest son and favorite child
  • not allowed to know anything about bio mom
  • no boys or men allowed to touch her, ever, no matter what
  • 1996/02/29 ; fire rat
  • pisces sun, cancer moon
  • judgment, high priestess
  • lily of the valley (purity, sweetness, motherhood, Our Lady’s Tears)
  • by MMPP June 2024, she’s 28 years old
  • born in Tokyo, Japan / 00:16 / St. Luke’s International

(1) BACKGROUND:

  • The (fictional) Fongs’ (fictional) jewelry brand is called “Snowglass” in English.
  • Opal gained her nickname/moniker after infamously refusing to wear Snowglass products of any kind, claiming none of them “fit [her] beauty” and that everyone who worked at the company should “try harder” to create jewelry that befits her.
  • Opal was raised and educated between Singapore and the USA, for the most part.
  • Double major in Macroeconomics and Computer Science, UC Berkeley. She was absent a lot of the time, but still managed to graduate fairly decorated.
  • Rarely allowed to travel to other parts of Asia.
  • Fongs (grandma especially) only want her in NA/EU if she’s not in SG.
  • Utterly miserable during the Pride festivities.
  • Ostensibly, she’s there to style a rich Thai trans beauty queen friend of hers (who is a fashion icon in the PH queer community).
  • In truth, yearns to reunite with high school ex-bff: a Russian-Filipina named Katya Sandoval.
  • Katya was a former full-ride scholar at Opal’s high school (Nanyang Girls’).
  • Nowadays, Katya is a librarian at UP Diliman.
  • Katya is completely offline: no Internet presence, can’t be contacted by Opal via phone or mail or even carrier pigeon.

(2) LOVELORN:

  • Opal and Katya initially became friends through their mutual love of anime, specifically Madoka Magica.
  • Sadly, Opal was also a TWGOK girlie while Katya much preferred Tiger & Bunny. They did not understand each other’s anime taste beyond Madoka.
  • Opal also showed great interest in technology, but without any appreciation or respect towards the fashion, beauty, or jewelry industries due to her family’s trade.
  • Katya is “girlier”, actually cares about all that stuff Opal takes for granted, while finding anything STEM-related to be completely arcane.
  • Katya (a loner) felt neglected by Opal—who seemed to be feared, respected, or adored by everyone in and out of school due to her intellect, eclectic interests, and of course her family name.
  • Katya started an anime club at some point, trying to reconnect with her, but Opal never even gave it a second glance.
  • From Opal’s perspective, anime had gotten boring already, and she had moved on to the budding hacking and gaming scene with all the nerdy guys.
  • Meanwhile, Katya was never respected by any kind of guy, especially nerds.
  • Katya graduated early and left Singapore, never to come back.
  • Opal only noticed she was gone by the time of her graduation party, and had been heartbroken ever since.

(3) VICES[N’T]:

SIDE A

  • Opal does not smoke, drink, get high, gamble, fuck, date, or even entertain the slightest mention of marriage proposals.
  • She says it’s because she’s singularly dedicated to girlbossing/the family business, and she is really good at it, but also she clearly hates it.
  • Opal’s one vice is sugar: ice cream, iced coffee, iced teas and tisanes, cakes preferably cold, pies, cookies, fruits, candies, bubblegum, and such. You’ll never catch her alone without anything sweet and/or cold nearby.
  • Bereft of her first and only bff, she pours all her money, care, and attention towards styling and glamming up any gays, but especially queer women/femmes/theys she meets—strong-arming Snowglass’ most luxurious and expensive pieces into always being on the bodies of the biggest queer celebrities no matter where.

SIDE B

  • Opal runs an extremely tight ship as the presumptive heiress to Snowglass: personally prosecuting and punishing the worst cases of workplace discrimination and abuse… but doing so with absolute secrecy.
  • Most people who work for the Fongs like to call her “The White Tigress.”
  • Will fund your transition, no questions asked… IF you bow and beg and cry in her office until she’s convinced you really want it *that* bad.
  • Does a similar thing to queer couples(++) who can’t marry or be together in their places of origin and is just as strict with the private boardroom begging requirements.
  • However, if she is successfully convinced of people’s love, she will NOT ONLY plan and fund and theme and direct the wedding, BUT ALSO pick the exact right country/province/town to settle down in, coordinate with relevant lawyers and real estate people, and make the subjects sign an NDA promising never to so much as *breathe* her name anywhere upon exiting the room.

SIDE C

  • Silently a beloved figure behind many famous sapphic and transfem celebrities all over SEA. Unquestionably protected and followed by any queer man content enough in their own femininity.
  • However, in US academic and entertainment circles, she is considered an anti-feminist and misogynist of the highest order—especially for associating with the econ and tech bro crowds + refusing to participate in identity politics in the States or use her wealth to fund LGBT art/studies/laws over there (or in SG, for that matter).
  • Keeps her asexuality, aromanticism, and autism a closely-guarded secret… but the fintech bros pretty much already know 💀 So do most SEA queers.
  • Meanwhile, she strikes the fear of god/death into any sir, man, guy, or fag she encounters through sheer cold intellect, family name, wealth, and lore-war-meta-gaming. And also music taste, of course.
  • As for her personal style, she is utterly minimalistic: Plain tees + pants + hoodies + hats + rubber shoes, white or black or muted colors, with the best materials and only the most subtle branding. Rarely goes anywhere without a cap and face mask of some sort.
  • The only thing that gives away her wealth is how she is never alone, always driven around, and the luxurious tech she always has with her (phone, laptop, headphones).
  • Two pairs of thick prescription Vera Wangs with her at all times: one clear, the other polarized/mirrored/super dark shades. Both horn-rimmed. Clears have wood-colored frames, shades are leopard print.

(4) CRYPTS/KEYS:

  • Opal is 100% completely and totally immune to Laurent’s everything.
  • Ultimately, Makoto will need the help of one Suzaku Akemi to find any crack in Opal’s frozen heart.
  • Eventual ending: Opal happily gives up her inheritance + position in her family’s company after one covert afternoon reunion in rashguards with Katya at ACE Water Spa (Pasig)—filled with laughter and sweets and k-pop!
  • Afterwards, Makoto and Laurent unwind with Cynthia and Abigail about the whole job at Little India (restaurant in QC)—where the girls proceed to make fun of them for taking so goddamn long to own up to their gayness for each other.
  • Basically, this “heist” is the neurodivergent aroace yuri between Joan of Arc and Catherine the Great, but 2020s Southeast Asian.
  • Their song (Brave Song GlDeMo ver.)

(5) THE BOYS’ TASK:

  • Since Laurent’s dramatic blonde French traggotry holds absolutely no power over Opal, Makoto must step up in his place.
  • In doing so, Makoto becomes more of a leading man when it comes to their PDA and romantic performances.
  • Makoto must continuously be the one to close gaps, win the games of gay chicken, and overall fluster and woo Laurent however he can.
  • Because!!! Opal ONLY believes their fake relationship when Laurent is visibly, genuinely shaken with the REAL romantic attraction he’s had for Makoto all along.
  • Culminating moment of Makoto performing a hip-hop harana routine of sorts at a grand drag show, in cyberpunk Samurai attire, for Laurent (styled gorgeously as the Disney Princess Belle).
  • The drag show takes place at a (fictional) LGBT bar named Casa di Venere, located right in the heart of QC. The theme for that night is “East Meets West.”
  • They win the evening and it’s not even close, but Opal walks out during the picture-taking to cry genuine tears alone and silence, in the dirty back alleys right outside the bar.
  • Makoto thought they failed, after all that—but Laurent disagrees, then confesses his own feelings.
  • Sparks-fly cosmic-rainbows genuine first kiss happens! EVERYONE claps and cheers and screams! Flowers and confetti and EVERYTHING upon the stage!

(6) THAWING THE ICE

  • As it turns out, Laurent could not get anywhere near Opal’s heart at first because all the queer people around her acted like a thorny fortress that *immediately* clocked his own repressed feelings for Makoto.
  • Thus, they conspired to let Makoto lead, be the prince—not just to impress Opal, but to crack Laurent, too.
  • In order to give Opal some LGBT pride, Makoto and Laurent had to find their own first!
  • Of course, Makoto bumbles and cringefails a lot at first before eventually piecing together Opal’s Japanese heritage and how she lost Katya—from various enigmatic hints left behind by all the queer people who surround Opal.
  • At the end of his rope and for lack of any other options he can come up with, Makoto calls Cynthia and Abigail and admits that the job is *impossible* with just him and Laurent. He then asks them for a favor.
  • The favor: arrangements for a secret Zoom meeting between himself and Suzaku Akemi (now imprisoned back in Japan)—without Laurent so much as hearing a peep about it.
  • The girls immediately comply.

(7) ANTI/VENOM

  • For most of the call, Makoto alternates between venting his own resentment at Akemi, some part of him still clearly angry at her.
  • She says nothing.
  • Faced with her steely silence and poker face, Makoto just keeps talking until he finally approaches the topic of Opal, but makes absolutely sure not to mention Laurent, their masquerade, or the genuine feelings involved therein.
  • Akemi still just stares at him blankly.
  • Makoto gets agitated, shouts some, cries a little.
  • Then finally… sighs, bows his head, and formally asks her for her advice.
  • Instead of saying anything, Akemi starts to sing.
  • Makoto is confused at first, tries to butt in, but stops himself when he sees the look in her eyes—a wholly foreign emotion he cannot decode.
  • So, he just listens.
  • The song Akemi sings is “Wandering Ginza Butterfly” (by Meiko Kaji). Transcribed and translated lyrics here.
  • Makoto is absolutely dumbstruck—by her voice, the lyrics, everything. Speechless.

(8) THE GAME

  • Immediately upon finishing the song, Akemi simply turns and walks away from the computer.
  • Minutes later, Makoto is coordinating like a martial officer with all of Opal’s relevant contacts plus acquaintances he and Laurent have made in Metro Manila so far, in order to organize that special night at Casa di Venere.
  • Does not even deign to inform Laurent about what happened or what he’s planning until their merry entourage shows up at their shared hotel room to spirit Laurent away and give him his Disney makeover.
  • But it’s okay, as Laurent seems enchanted and more than happy to go along with the scheme. By the time their new friends and Opal’s people are done with him, he is pretty much the best real French Disney Princess out there—no contest.
  • Whereas, Makoto practices his routine until the eleventh hour, memorizing and repeating the YouTube video over and over, agonizing over the lyrics in Romaji and Katakana… until he’s *just barely* confident enough that he wouldn’t get booed off the stage by every Filipino at the venue.
  • Song for Makoto’s performance: “Upuan” (by Gloc 9). Transcribed and translated lyrics here.
  • Makoto has no idea about the results of the makeover, so he damn near has a heart attack when he actually sees Laurent in the flesh once they’re onstage.
  • However, as Makoto always does, he clutches up at the key moments: plays the perfect yearning Samurai rapper, nails the Tagalog pronounciation even. Everyone’s jaws to the floor.
  • Laurent’s eyes are shining with unshed tears, but his small tender smile at Makoto is all real. Even through Laurent’s fancy gloves, Makoto can feel his pulse at the place where their hands are connected.
  • That’s amore.

(9) IRON + POLISH

  • Short private epilogue of Opal and Katya peacefully hanging out at a Buddhist temple, probably that one in Malabon.
  •  

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