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

[unbr8kable]

Yeah... Maybe it'll be safe in the meantime...

...You really wanna get treats? Or were you just trying to get away from those guys?

[crossmyheartandhope]

Dude, you know me, I always want cake.

...could get you that back pillow, too. If we're gonna be holing up in the dorms, we're gonna need a new pillow pile anyways.

[unbr8kable]

What would I even do with a back pillow? I can just lean on you, right?

[crossmyheartandhope]

Could do both. Pillow on me.

Double pillow.

Double lean.

[unbr8kable]

Seems like you're gonna need a back pillow after that.

...I got pillows in my little tent thing. If you don't mind Avante.

[crossmyheartandhope]

Tent sounds good to me.

[unbr8kable]

'Kay. There'll be space.

[crossmyheartandhope]

You wanna pick up anything for it, while we're out?

[unbr8kable]

If there's anything you wanna eat or drink special? I got some basics but nothing fancy.

I mean...you been to my room before.

[Somehow this earns a catcall...how did the crowds get to that rooftop...]

[crossmyheartandhope]

[Sticks his tongue out at the shadow-figure on the roof]

Could get conbini food or something?

[unbr8kable]

[That does not decrease the amount of catcalling,]

[For her part, Nemesis snorts, leaning in closer and placing her hands at his waist]

Sure. Or something fancier, even, if they got takeout.

[crossmyheartandhope]

Takeout ain't bad.

Whatcha feeling?

[unbr8kable]

I ain't picky. Whatever you're up for.

[crossmyheartandhope]

Wherever's got the shortest lines, I guess.

...man, we're gonna have to wait in lines.

[unbr8kable]

...They'll deliver to the dorms.

Unless you miss lines? It's been a while, after all...

[crossmyheartandhope]

Pretty sure no one's ever missed lines.

[Leaning in to tell the bird:]

Hey Ravioli, you wanna drop us off on Avante's balcony?

[unbr8kable]

Rav is welcome to hang out, too. In case he gets bored in...wherever he goes when he ain't here...

[crossmyheartandhope]

Pretty sure it's just in me.

What do you say, though, dude? You wanna come hang out?

[There's a little chirp, as they veer in toward the balcony]

[unbr8kable]

You don't gotta, s'pecially if you ain't into dogs or horses. But there's plenty of space.

Could even set up a bird bath...

[She waits for them to land before hopping off and opening the door. Somehow crowds have gone up the buildings across the street and next door so that there are people waving at them even up here on the tenth floor...]

[crossmyheartandhope]

[Ravioli gives another little chirp - sets himself down on the balcony, waiting for them to dismount]

Think that's a yes.

[unbr8kable]

[Does so, letting them in to the relative safety of Avante]

C'mon, then.

[crossmyheartandhope]

[Ravioli disappears as soon as they've dismounted, but Hurricane calls out:]

C'mon back, dude, come hang out.

[And Ravioli reappears in borb form, about the size of a generous pillow, to follow them in]