imeeji_frontstage | HANDSHAKE EVENT: FANSERVICE START

HANDSHAKE EVENT: FANSERVICE START

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

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[ A small, knowing smile. She doesn't much like rules or orders, either; it's her unfailing loyalty that lets her comply with what her unitmates wanted to call her. ]

Low level god -- not a bad source for a name. [ She quite likes it, but if he ever picks another name, she'll call him that instead. ]

Alizarin is a root that makes red dye. [ It's very obviously in reference to her red eyes. ] My other names are Melanie Vermeil☆Nitralina Sâmahe - Melanie and Sâmahe both mean black, and Vermeil☆Nitralina is a red colored explosive. [ Laughing a little, ] My arrival was a bit volatile.

Maybe not. Most people don't think so. [ he rubs idly at his shoulder. ] The god theme never sat well with me, though. And then I got memories back of being dead and enlisted in a fight against god, and that feeling made a lot more sense.

[ as one does! he does give a glance to her eyes again, nodding. makes sense! ]

Oh. Wow, you got a long one, huh? At least it's hopefully not ... offensive...?

Dead? [ That pulls her up short. She focuses over the din of the crowd, and for the first time is able to tell that he has no heartbeat. Wow, what do you say to that? ]

I -- can imagine that was shocking. [ There's a fair amount of sympathy behind her shock, at least? ]

This place is really a piece of work. [ She takes out her phone and unlocks it, her profile visible on the screen, to show him what she's working with: a given name of "Soul for Sale or Rent" and an age of "190 - 5,000 years" (whatever the hell that means) -- along with some truly creepy French calligraphy from 1833 that she can read perfectly, but most people can't, thankfully, because she has no idea what she'd say about it. ]

[ OOC: I forgot to add, she's a vampire and can hear heartbeats, so I hope this is okay! If not I will edit! <3 ]

Edited 2021-12-06 18:51 (UTC)

( ooc: 100% totally fine! he ... never addresses his lack of a heart himself so actually having someone notice/call him out on something regarding it would be great! haha ❤︎ )

It... was a little. Though I'm not sure if it's that part or this being a second run of total amnesia that was more frustrating to find.

[ Okitsu notes her expression, softening his own. it's okay, really, he means to project. ]

It is— [ but he leans over to check her profile, quirking a brow at the age listed and ... a lot of that, though he can't make out the French calligraphy. ] ... It is. I think the Producers have a screwed up sense of humor. They must. Between them and these bizarre fans...

[ sharing time! he's pulling up his unfortunate profile while they chat, please hold. ]

[ OOC: she will, sometime, for sure! Just not in the middle of a morass of fans, and probably after she actually figures out she's a vampire (right now she literally thinks everyone can hear everyone else's pulse lol) ]

Second run? [ That has her full attention, in a way that feels dangerously personal -- but she wants to know anyway, if he's willing to share it. (If not here, which is understandable, perhaps another time, because wow did that strike her oddly.) ]

( ooc: completely understandable! the fans sure are a lot and they've got time haha c: )

Oh. Yeah. The first memories I purchased here were... telling me I was dead and that I had amnesia. "The amnesia routine, it happens sometimes with people who die from head trauma and wander here."

[ he looks aside with a scoff, saying it perhaps a little too easily for the gravity of it. ]

I'm sure you can imagine how thrilled I was to have spent points on a memory to learn that.

[ Just listening for a moment; she's irritated about that, mostly in sympathy, but not entirely -- how dare these producers, honestly? ]

I guess it wouldn't do any good to demand a refund. I'm really sorry.

Wait, it gets even better. I hope you're excited.

[ spoken with completely dry sarcasm as he reveals the name on his profile:

☆ ABSOLUTE TRAINWRECK ☆ ]

... The moral of all this, if we ever see Producers? We should file some strongly worded complaints. Possibly physical ones.

[ Glancing at the phone, then pulling a face, far more indignant over his "name" and useless memory than her own situation. The Producers are plain gross. ]

Agreed. They'd better hope I don't get a clean shot. [ Still holding her katana, her grip has her knuckles white again. ]

All of this... it's why I feel strongly about standing by each other. I know we're divided into units and it won't always be possible to defend everyone, but I don't see why we shouldn't at least try.

[ consensual fights notwithstanding. ]

It's us against them. So, my offer to heal you if you need it... it's not just because you're new. Find me if you think you might get into trouble and need someone to be aware.

Yeah. I'm with you. [ Her first loyalty has to be to her unit, that's how she's built, but she couldn't agree more that they should try and stick together when they can. ]

I'll remember that. I wish I had something to offer in return, but I'm just a fighter. A good one, but there's a lot of those here. [ Pause, ] At least, if there's anything more to me that could be helpful, I don't remember it yet.

There are a lot of those here... but there are a lot of people who aren't, too.

[ he glances out at the cafe, past some of the fans, just quietly surveying. ]

I can't control what people do, but if it's alright to ask- when we're not in games, when we aren't forced to fight for our units. Just remember the weakest among us. They could use strong fighters looking out for them and defending them from the worst of it whenever possible. They're... not always very smart, even. They might run into trouble and not even think about it.

[ a soft, weak laugh. ]

That's all I'd really want in return.

[ She listens closely, a soft smile forming. It's nice to see someone so worried about keeping everyone safe -- she can't say she's had such a generalized feeling of protectiveness, her own instincts drifting far closer to her unit, and she's a little ashamed of that, now. ]

I don't think I've met anyone like that, but if I see someone who needs help, I'll protect them.

Great. Good talk. Can I see your phone for a second?

[ he leaves his on the table. ]

I'd like to send a few points your way. I'm not made of them, but it'd be enough for a public memory or some towards something else. Your choice, again. Because, uh, we don't get a ton of choices here... but we should have some.

[ and he's quite grateful for the one she'd just made. ]

That's not --

[ So she's about to launch into a whole thing about how it's really not necessary and she's just doing the right thing (with some encouragement, which seemed to be needed, hmm) and besides she's actually got some points thanks to the Mega Live she helped with... but she decides to just be honest, he deserves that much. ]

I'm not sure I want my memories yet. Anytime I do get a flash of something maybe familiar, it makes me feel sick. And I really don't want to do it with all these people around. But even if they vanish in the morning, I'm not ready yet.

You did give me a choice, and you offered to help if I need it. That's more than enough.

But -- thank you. [ Smiling, softer and genuine. ] It's a really nice offer.

Hey, it's alright. You don't have to explain. I... thought the same, and needed a little time to go through with it too.

[ while he leaves his phone on the table, he makes no move to try reaching for hers, nor does he continue to insist. ]

If it helps at all, since I, uh, know none of that's probably very reassuring... Having someone with you that you feel you can trust if and when you decide to take back memories can help a lot.

Edited (clarity!) 2021-12-08 15:27 (UTC)

[ It's funny, someone else also offered to buy her a memory, but Okitsu's offer seems more out of genuine kindness, whereas Caeli was more curious to figure her out. And yet, they both understood well enough when she declined, and they both offered the same advice about having someone close by when she decides to take the plunge. ]

It sounds like good advice. [ And it does, but she has no intention of ripping herself open in front of anyone. ] I guess it's hard to tell when I'd prefer until I get there, you know?

I do. You'll know when it feels right, when it's - time to look for answers about behaviors you don't understand, or fears, or... sick feelings.

[ he remembers each and every one, and he knows very well the sort of hesitation she speaks of. ]

It sucks. But we're here together. Speaking of, I think it's about time we get into some desserts, huh?

[ Shifting from Serious Discussions to dessert has her brightening up absurdly, in a way that would seem exaggerated were it not so clearly genuine. ]

Great idea~! [ She lines up ten of the desserts in front of her and then starts with the one furthest on the right, eating quickly and eagerly but, by contrast, with a great deal of politeness. Prepare to be amazed that a lady who weighs 90 pounds soaking wet can demolish this much food without breaking a sweat! ] If there's one good thing about this place, it's the free food.

Yeah, sometimes I've got 'em—

[ wh

whoa. would you look at that!

excuse him, he is just watching and indeed impressed, quietly taking one of his own desserts to enjoy alongside her. ]

So... are you maybe a little bit of sweets lover? [ he's laughing, but it's as gentle as anything else, certainly not making fun. ] I'll have to reach out to a friend, he makes a great pumpkin pudding!

[ Continues clearing plates and parfait cups with ease and enthusiasm, showing no signs of slowing down, but does pause to reply so her mouth isn't full when she speaks. ]

Definitely! But I'm not picky really. I'm just starving all the time. [ She doesn't know why, but it's a lightning-fast metabolism trying to compensate for her not drinking any blood. ] I can drink like a fish, too. Everyone was shocked how much I could drink, and I didn't feel even a little tipsy. Everyone needs a talent, I suppose.

[ And yes, she is very interested in the prospect of further desserts even with the veritable feast of them before her! ] That sounds really good, I'd love to try it!

Eh, starving all the time..?

[ that's... concerning. ]

Heyyy, let me grab a few more desserts, you finish what you've got and I'll be right back. Hold that thought!

[ can he go grab her desserts with a little more... useful calorie content? if she's not picky, surely she wouldn't object, right..? he's. he's very worried for her. ]

[ ~~OH JUST YOU WAIT this is the least worrisome she gets~~ ]

Thanks, that's nice of you! But don't push yourself, I'm okay. I can go without eating this much, I just like food. And I might as well do this request only because it's fun and easy.

[ ~~oh u kno just Otonashis being concerning together~~ ]

Hey, this isn't pushing myself! This is ... maybe the least I've ever pushed myself? Hah.

[ spoken before he orders a fruit-filled cake, a fruit tart, a couple of milkshakes... ]

If it's free, you should live it up! Uhh, I know you said you aren't picky, but do you have a favorite fruit?

[ Her eyes get quite large (and sparkly) at all the new food! This day got a lot better in the last few minutes! ]

Hmm. [ Humming to consider that as she chews and swallows, thus polishing off dessert number 8. ] Strawberries, if I had to pick, and dark plums... and pears. [ She slips back into speaking French; it's translated by ~magic~, but he might notice different mouth movements. ] I guess the only fruit I don't eat a lot of are grapes. I don't know why, they taste good, I just always expect them to be different. [ Being raised on a French winery messes with your perceptions like that, but she has no idea that's the reason. ]

What about you?

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ends - 2021-12-09 14:19 (UTC) - Expand

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sangreine - 2021-12-09 20:08 (UTC) - Expand

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