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

[daios]

[Stop, he's already dead!!!]

Nnghh...! Uh, w-well I... Should I get dressed up...????

[Is going on a date covered by the servant agreement??? It must be. Hades simply did not expect this use.]

[outofoffice]

If you want. But then I'll have to go get dressed up too!

[daios]

[Shit, well now he needs to think of where they're going on a date and what kind of dressing up is necessary... he can't cook enough for it to be an at home dinner date!!]

Did you have uhm... an idea where you wanted to go for dinner...?

[outofoffice]

[ This poor bastard ]

--There's a place that has all kinds of wine!! I believe it's called -- ah -- "Garden of Olives"?

[daios]

I see...

[Why did he even bother asking? If course he has no idea where the hell that is or what it's like.

That said, he is in avante attire, so other than his jacket simply not being large enough to button up over his chest, he's probably as well-dressed as he's getting.]

Well then, I think I will be fine in what I'm in. Will you lead the way?

[outofoffice]

Of course! Allow me.

[ Offering his arm ]

[daios]

[Hesitantly perhaps, but he will accept the arm given and follow Venti along, utterly baffled.]

[outofoffice]

[ Marching them toward the Olive Garden, humming a lovely melody. He could say or do something to ease Hades' social awkwardness, but, absolutely not.

Suffer. ]

[daios]

[He will, but also he DID agree to do whatever sensitIV asks of him, so he will follow along dutifully, like a big dog.

He is quiet for a long time though.]

Mmh.

Do not get me wrong, you are my type, but I must ask why... you want to go on a date with me so suddenly? You must know I have interests elsewhere, right...?

[He just doesn't want to be a HEARTBREAKER.]

[outofoffice]

[ o m g ]

Hmmm? Are you worried for my feelings, then?

[daios]

Well, yes. I... Do not know your intentions with this date, but I'm afraid I don't think I'm in a place to. Romance. Anyone, really.

I have been grappling with having feelings for Persephone, so I'm a little distracted, even though I do not intend to move forward with any of those feelings at this time.

[outofoffice]

[ Stay away from Persephone ]

. . .



Soooooooooo cute!!!

[daios]

[Hades. does not know how to feel about that reaction, but he's not known for being able to read people.]

........???

Don't you think that's... I mean... Izanagi told me that it was because I was obsessed with Persephone that I attacked your unit.

I would think you would feel some other way...???

[outofoffice]

I was referring to your concern about leading me on!


You don't stand a chance with Perse. ♪

[daios]

I see. Well, until he tells me to leave him alone, then I will believe there is hope for me yet. Even if it takes a hundred years, I'll become someone worthy of him.

There's always a chance I'll change my mind! But until then, I don't want anyone getting their hopes up.

[outofoffice]

Is that so . . . ?

Well, you needn't worry about me! I'm not interested in that kind of thing.

[daios]

It is! If he tells me he never wants to see me again, well. Then that is that.

[He wouldn't like it, but he has decided that if it ever comes to that, he will leave Persephone alone as requested.]

... But if that's not your aim, then there is no problem. I am your humble servant, after all.

[outofoffice]

That's the spirit! After all, what's the harm in a single evening of fun?

[daios]

Of course. As long as we are on the same page, I am happy to go out for a night and mess around.

[outofoffice]

I have one small condition, though.

[daios]

.... And that is?

[outofoffice]

This has nothing to do with any pre-established agreements with sensitIV, which I consider to be null and void for the duration of the evening! I don't like mixing business with pleasure.

[daios]

[Hades pauses, nodding after a moment.]

Very well then. I shall act according to my own free will.

[outofoffice]

Great! Now it's a date!

[daios]

[Don't mind him as he blushes about it!!! It's fine, he'll play it cool.]

I hope I can be a satisfactory date for you...!