Scene 2 Hu Nu knew 

Periwinkle walks in about twenty minutes later, kind of  glowing, but refreshed. He kneels down to my shoes and  says, “Po Dorothy! So sad, sexy ass FMP on this tourist.  You have my pity.” Looking me in the eye, he stands and  says, “Ready?”  

He and Hunter elbow bump, fist pound with a rocket or  something, our phones all ring this cute little fairy dust sound. Somebody moans. And all the  women’s shoes shimmer like fireworks.

He takes off his glasses, polishes them on his shirt tail, puts them in his pocket, then drops the papers on the receptionist’s desk. I see Whynter and Shantel’s signatures. With the prettiest blue stone fountain pen, he signs the last page saying, “Herbie Hancock.” 

Signing the contracts with a beautiful pink granite ball point, Hunter bursts out a huge deep snorking, honking laugh, then she takes one of those cheap stick pens with the company logo and wwww on it, out of the cup on the receptionists’ desk, and points to a line that reads, 

witness.  

Eyeballing the desk and my behind, Periwinkle turns to Hunter and says, “Whoa! Fresh. Is that a black One  Ring?” I lost mine a while back.” Hunter fondles the glowing black ring hanging from the  woven gold collar around her neck, says, “Yeah. I got it  at Kintsukuroi-Shibari. After I read the book. I thought it  was fresh and different because it had been shattered and reassembled. We smelted two yellow bricks worth of  computer chips to reclaim the gold.” 

Periwinkle grins bashfully and mumbles, “Cool, weird, but  cool. Now that business is done. Hunter, I’ll see you and  Nancy at the Pfunk Parade in the D in a couple of weeks.  You are bringing Nancy? I mean if she doesn’t wanna  come.I understand. It’s cool, but Benita and Sun are  dying to take you two shopping in the Crystal Corridor.  On that note, how is your reassignment?” 

They did that fist pound thing again and all our phones  made that Glitter sound. 

-from Glitterbox 

Contract fulfilled: 

Transfer of funds complete. 

10 Shit tonnes of Imagined Nation Glitter released to A.W.A.  Publishing Division basket. 

Hunter says, “Yeah! So, my Lovie chose a little T. Prime.  Only seven and a half inches. Wanna see? Nah! We are  so there. It is so great seeing you again, Bro. Love yo  ass. But I’m staying in the drag I’m in. I’ve been livin’ as  a lesbian all my life, I’m a good enough Asshole. I like my  job. I ain’t about to start trying to play like I’m a straight  man now. ‘Cept this fucker right here got nerve endings  and blood and responses. Yeah! Responses. 

Teledildonics. I’m her favorite toy fo sho. But yeah… … So, yeah the book. Penman. Right. Anyway. Wait. wait.  wait. P. Dawg, so is it wrong that I’m banging my dad’s  secretary? I mean. Don’t hate me cause I’m beautiful. I’m  so pretty.” 

They hug. Periwinkle looks at me, stands up straight and  says, “Now, If I walk these stairs two more times, I’ll have  done half my walking for the morning. But, we ordered  Kopi Luwak. So! Thank you Stacie. Now, please show me  to a meeting room, where you can give me a rundown of  my new division (YOUR DIVISION) and introduce me to  the Creative Department.” 

This old raggedy man is a beast, everything straight to  the point, I’m not aroused ‘cause I’m pissed. First he calls  me an inconsiderate tasteless bitch and then he suggests  that I’m fat and out of shape. I’m aroused because he  took my power and gave it back. Now I am intrigued. I  want inside his head. I want access to his power. 

He sniffs the air, looks at me, smiles and says, “Like I  said outside, Ain’t happenin’ Indigo Obsession. Besides,  I’m a Sapio-Sexual. I’m not your type. You know. Your  type, D. T., Fuck E. Cheese all day. After parties, gallery  openings, spas and shit. Saxophonists, bikers, dope  boys, IT Thugs, Wallstreet niggaz from Cardboard City  types. Freaknik types. You never get tired of winning. I  can smell it on you. But here’s a little tid-bit. Something  about you that you don’t know about yourself. You take  your shoes off before you fuck. Then you get mad and  say, ‘But we made love.’  

Because to you, the only difference between fuckin’ and  making love is how the dick you fuckin makes you feel  about you. And the tokens of affection that express that they know you like that don’t hurt. Like a tennis score.  Who needs love like that? 

Me and Ducktown here, we go back like them green lawn  chairs in your gramma’s garage. We Assholes, if we don’t  do our job, whole thing dies. I’m square on all six sides.” 

In the background I hear a woman giggle. 

Periwinkle says, “That is my copy editor, I’m here to get  you out of her hair.” Tapping the flashing pale blue gem  behind his ear he says, “Miss Dehr Whyte, how long  before coffee is served?” 

Just seconds later, the backlighted gemstone on his  ear piece blinks once and Captain Whyte steps off the  elevator behind two people pushing room service carts.  She hands him his little flip phone, which he promptly  stuffs in his jacket pocket, pats twice saying, “Phone.” 

While she takes his headphones and earcuff. Phones all  over the office make that glitter sound again, she then  pours his coffee from a little French press and says, “Sir.”  Serves Periwinkle another crystal cup. Takes the first  crystal cup from my hand, says, “Shiny thing.”, hands it  to the butler, who puts it under the room service cart. I  almost cried. It felt so good. 

She curtsies to him, saying “…for everyone else, three  minutes in conference room C. Periwinkle, the train back  to Chicago leaves in three hours. I’ve mapped you out a  cool walk past some of your favorite spots, your Mott’s  Sister is meeting you at the library bar in Chinatown,  and accommodations for Ms. Palimpsest ‘s flat will be  completed by the end of the day.  

Shiny Things has gotten everything prepared for her  welcoming party tonight.

Sun and Shantel’s mom will meet her if and when she  arrives in Detroit.” 

-Ding- 

– from Joe’s coffee 

126 cups of Kopi Luwak 1.1375 tGlitter  

I’m thinking that’s like $1050.00 

42 6oz lead crystal coffee service sets. 3.251 tGlitter Rush Service 0.551 tGlitter,  

I’m reading out loud now, “Really? Snacks, condiments  and delivery No additional costs. 

Thank you 

Total 10.213 tonne of Glitter 

Joe.” 

That big redhead continues, “And, I responded to Shantel  and Whynter’s text messages of she reads his phone,  ‘Thanks for not putting Ms. Palimpsest over your knee  and spanking her right there in the lobby, with ‘You got  it! Love you Baby Gurl, Elmira.’ Will that suffice, sir? Leans over my shoulder saying, “It’s about $4515.00.”

That’s when I completely lost my shit, “SHANTEL SAID  YOU WUZ AN ASSHOLE. BUT FOR REAL! REALLY!  YOU SON OF A BITCH! FOUR THOUSAND FIVE  HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN DOLLARS, FOR WHAT?  WHAT THE FUCK IS COPY LOO WACK ANYWAY?  AND WHO YOU THINKIN’ ‘BOUT PUTTIN’ OVA YO  KNEE? I READ THAT SHIT YOU SAID IN THE CHAT. ! You ain’t my daddy or my lover Nigah. I’m a grown ass  woman. I’ll fah… 

 -Ding- 

– from Joe- Invoice paid via Glitterbox by P. Bubbz

Thank you. 

That big bitch is standing over me, tappin’ that crop on  her boot. He smiles sadly and says, “You offered to pay.  I was gettin’ it anyway. What? You act like you ain’t rich  and shit. Diamond encrusted Rolex is faceless… Oh I  knew you didn’t mean it. Suck up.” 

-Ding Ding- 

 

I’m thinking that’s about my share of this division. 

He says, “Fah – Don’t worry about it Stacie. Captain  Whyte, pay the bill please. Use my Glitterbox. This…  …She, is harshing my mellow. Please keep her social  distance.” 

I’m staring at this chick, when she says, “It’s done  Periwinkle. Now let it go.” Then that big Red head says,  “Sir.”, he turns, she hands him a plush green box with  beautiful blue butterflies tied to a soft white cord, he  blushes, smiles and says, “Xiao Mao. Zhège gěi ni.” 

He wiggles his little rump, says, “Thank you Captain. Now  show me the way to room C, please.” 

The members of the creative department are waiting in  their studio, smiling and confident like I’ve never seen  them. And for the first time, all at the same time. They  stopped sipping on their coffee or tea or whatever Copy  Loo Wack is and introduced themselves one by one. 

Taking the pins out of her top knot and letting her silky  cornflower blue hair spill over her wide behind, “I asked  him if I could go to Detroit with him and be his pet. It’s the  Kopi Luwak talking. Vellocet, you really should try it.” Judy looks genuinely surprised, “Anywho. I didn’t say  that. I didn’t mean to, but I did. Yeah! It’s the Kopi Luwak  talking. This is the best cup I’ve ever had in my life! Miss  Palimpsest, have you tried it? Mr…” He says, “Periwinkle,  please, Kitten. Please! Really! You think so?” 

Judy says, “…Periwinkle. Right. I know we did the  creative for Stacie’s book, and because of the promotion,  it’s a massive hit, but when I finally sat down to read it. I  was really unhappy that it was nothing like our advertising  projects. It is so much better. Would you sign my galleys?  I don’t think you’re going to get the same reader numbers  for the next book in the series. We are publishing the  other six right? Say yes. Please.” 

He’s just staring at me while I fume, thinking. I’m Senior  Accounts Executive, and in charge of new authors. I got a  bottom line to answer to. When he says, “Yo, Judy. Ni shì  yī zhī, Xiao Māo. For real forreal! I’m honored. Stand next  to me please, Kitten. I’m kind of nervous right now. Thank  you Xiao māo. Zhège gěi ni.”

He holds the box out to her, she pulls the cord and the  butterflies fly off the box and around the room. She sings,  “Lapid-thopters, I’ll tell all you about them one day. I still  can’t Twerk. See!” She drops her bottom low and makes  her butt cheeks bounce individually.  

“Yeah. You can! He smiles and bows formally to her.  Takes off the lid. Judy extracts an identical copy of  his speckled yellow green headphones, he says,  “#D.A.D.88C. Sliced Asian Pear, the first off the line. It’s  wonderfully nice to finally meet my Otaku.  

My Otaku Meganekko, in real life. Wow! 

So, who do you think would appreciate the product?  Everyone – Anyone?” He puts the lid back on the  box and sits it on her writing desk. “Anyway, you’re  always between my ears.” 

Judy takes the cord from his hand, walks across the room  to me, stands about three feet in front of me, kneels,  wraps the cord around her neck, leans forward, flips her  hair. He walks to her and loops a ring on the cord, ties a  pretty knot, and whispers, “Thank you. I’m going to spank  your ass later.” She, looks me in the eye saying, “Then I  will read to you until you sleep.” He kisses her forehead,  straightens up, and hands me an envelope and says,  “Your debts are paid.” He pats her rump, she stands,  clears her throat, still staring me in the eye, using all of  her well trained composure right now, “Well, I believe  your true audience are fiscally conservative, heritics,  atheists, gnostic or agnostic, Sapio-sexual…” 

The butterflies light on her headphones and her adorable  little saddle oxfords softly pulse shimmering pale  lavendar light. 

Walking away, he says to me, “It’s often an uncomfortable 

condition these days. Right Xiao Mao?”  

Judy crosses back to him, leans into his chest, snuggles  in, yawns and continues. “…Ecologically concerned,  patrons of the arts and the humanities. The kind of  people that collect first editions, manuscripts and vinyl  records. People that contribute to green upgrades to  major institutions. People like me.  

I was sad, because book one was so short. But for a  dollar ninety nine, it was worth buying the digital edition  Stacie published. And, I bought an advance copy of Book  Seven L.E. popup folio too. At a pound of Glitter, with  three years to pay it off, it’s a great deal. I’m giving it to  my niece. She’s turning six next week…” 

I’m thinking, I thought this was some kind of erotica 

Judy saying, “…It’s a brilliant piece of work. Stacie, gurl,  you really should try this coffee. I came.” The server  offers her more, but she refuses, “Oh no thank you,  please. I’d really like to cuddle and go to sleep. I literally  and figuratively had a Kopi Luwak orgasm. Oh my. Baba,  can we take our walk soon? Or go to my room and  spoon? Oh My Goodness. I said that.” 

He’s blushing, I’m trippin’ now for sure. “Gala: What’s a  Say-Pee-Oh Sexual?” Dyson, that cute little white boy  and a couple others co-signed Judy’s sentiments. The next was Collins, a graphic artist, “Hi, I’m Colm.  I’m an illustrator. Because of this first book, I changed  my FetLife profile to…”Periwinkle interrupts him. “Yeah!  Yeah. I read your post, DC Dude 102. You’ve got some  fascinating kinks. I like your technique. We’ll talk about  it later Baby. No more coffee for you right now, okay?  Now… 

…I guess you all already know that I’m Periwinkle 

Bubbles’s Avatar, thank you all for helping to make me a  little richer. I greatly appreciate it. So much so that I’m  investing a percent of sales from book one into A.W.A. Asbury Wyatt Associates is no longer a division of  H.B.G., but a partner in the Imagined Nation network.  And everyone in this office that’s signed their contract is now a voting…”