HANDSHAKE EVENT: FANSERVICE START

[idolpro]

Who: Unfamiliar faces?
Where: Tokyo-F
When: Day 424, morning

[ The cryptic countdown pauses: 999999.

Then, the video feed turns on. Who's this—why, it's Man☆Eater! ]

A big ol' congrats to our final winner, who requested: "PLEASE MAKE C KING OF HEAVEN"! Now, we could make that happen for you, but where'd be the fun in that? And hey, we've got a special occasion to celebrate: the start of our fourth season! If the third time's a charm, the fourth's gotta be even better, right? Gyahaha!

They say you should meet your heroes... eh, or wait, was it the opposite? Oh well, too late! 'Cause guess what, you lucky rascal? Instead of sitting back and watching all the action through a screen, you're getting the once-in-a-lifetime chance to meet the man himself! No accounting for taste if you ask your host here, but hey, go bask in his divine presence or whatever! Gyahahahaha!

[ the video shuts off before further explanation can be given, though fortunately you're receiving a text message: ]

IMEEJI'S FIRST HANDSHAKE EVENT BEGINS
FULFILL FAN REQUESTS TO BECOME MORE POPULAR ♥

[ And the ground begins to shift . . . there's a rumbling sound—an earthquake?

—no. Those are the sounds of footsteps . . . thousands of them, all at once.

Wherever idols are, they'll be able to see the streets and buildings are being invaded. Not by imps, not by demons, but rather, monochromatic people—sometimes just silhouettes, shadowy facsimiles of people rather than people themselves. Though they look lifeless, the energy they bring with them is overwhelming. Suddenly, the empty once-plastic city feels like it has the population to justify its size, and every building, communally upgraded or not, now accommodates the visitors, with non-upgraded buildings revamped inside to be bare-bones sleeping quarters for the . . . just how many people are here, anyway?

Perhaps more intimidating than the abrupt number of the Damned in Tokyo-F is the fact that they're all wearing. . . idol merchandise. Jackets with idol faces on them. Headbands. Lightsticks.

And. . . wherever you are, they're there. To get your signature. To shake your hand. Maybe to ask you to do something.

Idols will have to deal with this for . . . some time. The cryptic countdown has started again, but this time it's ticking reliably, though slowly, down.

Incidentally: far from the hotel, tall white walls have been erected around Honmachi Sakura Park. They're not magical walls, though—it seems determined idols can use any number of methods to climb over the walls to get to Heaven. It looks like it's largely there to keep fans away. . . ]

SIGN-UPS | REQUESTS | TURN-IN @ SUNDAY, DECEMBER 12

Comments

[bondsofsuffering]

They shouldn't be able to get into the dorms without unit membership. Just go hide in the forest or something and no one should be able to find you.

I mean, one of our own members got lost on the beach for a while.

[ends]

Uh. The- beach? That sounds like a story.

[ shaking his head, ]

I'm sticking with those of us who are out here. There are a few people I want to check on that might be out and about anyway, I can't just ditch and be alright with myself. I can be weirded out by all this, though.

[bondsofsuffering]

There isn't much of one... We just didn't see much of him for a while and then he found his way to the door and collapsed out of it. But he was a... particularly unique guy, let's say.

Have you considered just texting them?

[ends]

If you want to be rid of me, you can just say that.

[ lightly punching Izanagi in the shoulder, because teasing, really!! ]

But nah, that's the thing, I did text. It's the response... Mm, so now I've got things I need to do that I can't if I just hide out.

[bondsofsuffering]

I just want my cute little kouhai to be safe, that's all!

Do you have a friend in trouble out here?

[ends]

There's no cute kouhai here! [ huff! until he changes course a bit, clearing his throat, ] There's one cute person here and it's not me. [ baps head! ]

ANYway... I've been investigating, but maybe. I've gotta make another stop at WILD CITY, then... probably out there.

[bondsofsuffering]

Did you make friends on WILD CITY?

[Still pulling him along to the hotel.]

[ends]

Is that so surprising?

[ still complying, but that sure is a fan throwing a ... can of soda? but why though.

oh,

because it says "MY LOVE BURSTS FORTH LIKE THE DELECTABLE DRINK FROM THIS HUMBLE CONTAINER" in red marker, cool cool. ]

1/2

[bondsofsuffering]

Nah, it's just good to keep in mind where your friends are. WILD CITY's part of our alliance, so it's good to have friends there - but if bad games happen, knowing who you might want to avoid hitting is important, too.

[bondsofsuffering]

[And then a can comes flying. He catches it, but now the fans are chanting for them to share it for an indirect kiss.]

[ends]

That could've hit someone in the head.

[ TIRED. ]

... I guess that's not the worst request for someone to make. What flavor's the drink? [ because yeah sure that can be the criteria re: whether he'd do it or not. ]

[bondsofsuffering]

[Holding it up; it's a generic cola.]

It's nothing terrible, at least.

[And popping it open to take a swig before holding it out to Kitsu.]

[ends]

Hey, as long as it's not "mystery flavor."

[ no harm in taking it from Izanagi and taking a sip himself, to the screaming delight of

those things. fans? fans. he shuffles aside when one slips him a note and runs away, though. ]

... So this is what we have to look forward to indefinitely.

[bondsofsuffering]

Nya said there might be one last thing to look forward to at the end, so that's... potentially something?

What'd you get?

1/

[ends]

[ unfolding... ]

2/

[ends]

[ ew why is it wet?? it doesn't really crinkle the way it should. ]

3/3

[ends]

...

Nausea.

Re: 3/3

[bondsofsuffering]

...I'm kind of scared to ask, but I think at this point we're contractually obligated to or something.

Re: 3/3

[ends]

You're not, actually, and you shouldn't!

Re: 3/3

[bondsofsuffering]

[Just moving over so he can peek at it.]

Re: 3/3

[ends]

[ he won't bother concealing the (wet) note, it reads: ]

hi you're ABSOLUTE TRAINWRECK, right? i'm SUCH a fan, you're SO cute i just want to keep you bundled up and protected with me forever and ever and eeeeeever

hey can i actually do that? oh don't worry i don't need all of you. just give me your head

Re: 3/3

[bondsofsuffering]

...

We can probably just buy one...

Re: 3/3

[ends]

And waste points on it? Just to have a severed head?


And before you assume anything, no, that doesn't mean I planned on finding someone to take my head off to complete this thing.

Re: 3/3

[bondsofsuffering]

Then...

[Cupping his hands around his mouth:]

Hey! C'mon, less violent requests, more cute ones!

Re: 3/3

[ends]

[ helpfully:

"IS CANNIBALISM CUTE?!"

then, another:

"Omgomgomg NO IT'S NOT CUTE it's DELICIOUS but it's not CUTE!" ]

I will throw one of my accessories into the crowd if I never have to hear that again.