4th Wall start: Announcement!

[idolpro]

Who: WHO ARE YOU? also exael
Where: WHERE ARE YOU?
When: WHEN are-- it's Day 175

[ If you're in your dorms, watching the television, you might be lucky enough to see it flick on and have Exael's smiling face greet you. The polychromatic set behind her looks like she's filming in Liar Tokyo, so no game tower nightmares await you— yet.

"Hello~ Tokyo-F, Tokyo-D, and every other city under the heavens! We have got a show for you! In collaboration with our affiliates, we're bringing on some new guest stars, all arranged into brand new units! Everyone, even if they'll only be here a little while, cheer them on!

Because soon, we'll see how our new favorites and all our old favorites do when they go head to head! So now, ladies, gentlemen, and honored guests! It's time to enjoy the show!"

She gestures wide with both her arms, and behind her a curtain starts to raise, revealing a big screen split four ways but before you can see what her side is broadcasting, the broadcast to your television cuts out. Maybe you should be on the lookout for those guest stars?

Or maybe you missed the broadcast entirely, and have no idea why there's suddenly four new units wandering around the place. ]

Comments

[carnivorouscarnival]

[ —oh. right. crowded lobby.

he freezes mid-motion, so now there's just a strange dude staring at her with a wide-and-wild-eyed look and an arm half-extended in her direction.

welcome to Hell! ]

1/2

[snackthatsmilesback]

[ haha what's this why does this seem so familiar why does that look seem so familiar there's less XXX in it but it's still the same she'd recognize it anywhere even if she can't remember why can't she remember what can't she remember why does it hurt why do people get hurt why can't they just live in a world where there's no more p ]

[snackthatsmilesback]

................

Hi! Do you want to be friends?

[carnivorouscarnival]

[ he drops his hand but doesn't actually seem to relax his stance, voice low. ]

Who, me? I don't need friends.

[snackthatsmilesback]

E-ehehe...

[ run run run run run run run run run run run run run run run run run run run run run run run run run run run run run run run run run run run run run run run run run run run run run run run run run run run run r ]

U-um, well...you seem a bit upset...? S-so...♪

[ she takes a deep breath, voice quieting ]

We could talk...if you want...?

[carnivorouscarnival]

Upset? Gyahahaha. Do I seem upset? Ah, ahh. I wouldn't say upset. Gyahaha, but who knows, maybe you're right...!

[ he gestures towards the exit of the lobby. ]

Then let's walk and talk.

[snackthatsmilesback]

[ do not do not do not do not ]

...

[ 1. Trust Man Eater ]

O...kay...

[carnivorouscarnival]

[ oh, good.

he starts leading the way, then. ]

[snackthatsmilesback]

[ She steps off, following close behind. Like really, what's the worst that could happen? Nothing bad has ever happened to her, not at all. She doesn't have any reason to believe this person is dangerous since they just met, and besides --

There's something she wants to know. ]

...

So...I...

...

I know I asked if there was anything you needed to talk about, but...do you know about someone named Little☆Red?

[carnivorouscarnival]

[ he doesn't turn back to look at her as he talks, so she can't see his face—(so he can't see her face?)—but he answers in a surprisingly even voice this time. ]

Yeah. She was my unitmate, and my little sister. Still is the second one.

[snackthatsmilesback]

......

I'm sorry. It...must be painful to see me, then. I can go, if you want.

[ smile. this is okay. this is fine. she's used to hurting people by existing, after all. ]

[carnivorouscarnival]

[ he still doesn't look back at her, but he gives a sight shake of his head. ]

The only pain that matters to me is hers.

[snackthatsmilesback]

Is she in a lot of pain...? I guess -

[ if she's not on his unit anymore she must just be somewhere else in Hell, right? And that's - that's - ]

- ah...if only I could meet her. I think I'd like to. She sounds...nice. If she's in pain, I want to help.

[carnivorouscarnival]

[ a sharp laugh that's devoid of any actual humor. ]

If you don't want to see her in pain, meeting her is the last thing you should do. That's like rubbing salt in an open wound.

[snackthatsmilesback]

......Um, how...?

[carnivorouscarnival]

We~ll, who knows? Think of it as a riddle.

[snackthatsmilesback]

Is...

[ it's really not something she wants to ask, and she's not even sure why. it would make sense in this place, and there's not really any other explanation for someone who's apparently an exact duplicate of her sans colour scheme.

but that's really the most upsetting part - and it's another thing she can't remember. red's just a colour, right? there's nothing to be scared of. just asking the question is fine. it won't hurt a bit. ]

Is...

...

Is her name Wadanohara?

[carnivorouscarnival]

. . .

[ a pause, and then: ]

You got it. Look at that, you didn't even need a hint.

[snackthatsmilesback]

.........................................................

I'm...so...happy for her. You seem like...a happy family.

[carnivorouscarnival]

Is that right...?

[ is he saying that in response to the first comment or the second? who knows. ]

[snackthatsmilesback]

I wouldn't lie about something like that, ehehe.

[ this might be convincing if she was speaking to anyone who didn't already know Red, but as we all know she always lies specifically about things like that, ]

[carnivorouscarnival]

[ yes. he knows that best of anyone. ]

. . .

[ he comes to an abrupt stop, glancing at their surroundings. ]

This should be far enough.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[Excuse me, Izumu.

Are you okay? Did the producers manage to punch you in the tender unprotected feelings area, too?]

[carnivorouscarnival]

[ is he okay? well, he almost attacked her on sight, hasn't stopped making unhinged expressions, and now appears to be trying to lure her out of the lobby. surely there is nothing concerning about any of that.

he also seems to be so preoccupied that he hasn't even noticed Intensity is watching yet. ]

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[. . .

It's probably fine.

He'll check in on Izumu later]