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

[at_heart]

[ Snorts, shaking his head, then turns a grin on her. ]

Oh, I see how it is. [ Playful, though. ] Don't worry. For certain values of dirty, you can count on me.

[ Another whoop from the crowd for that one; someone screams all four of Alizarin's current names with feverish intensity and then, it's a little hard to tell from the shapes of gray people, possibly passes out from excitement? ]

Hey, now. Remember to stay hydrated, folks.

[ Almost sweet, but his eyes are on her the whole time. ]

[sangreine]

I guess that's why you nickname everyone. [ Long names are clearly a health hazard also she has five now because ☆Zrael has zero chill. ]

So that's a no on getting pinned down and groped in the middle of a creepy faceless hoard? [ Just checking (teasing), you know how it is. This isn't her first choice of locale either but she's feeling particularly irreverent. ]

I don't suppose we can use your flying leaf trick to avoid getting on the train with these -- people. [ Being stuck on an enclosed train car with this sounds very unpleasant, but getting carried and toying with him along the way sounds extremely pleasant. ]

[at_heart]

[ A tiny bit startled, then he laughs. Well, he's used a fair few in front of her himself, so. ]

Something like that, maybe. [ Admits, ] I haven't settled on one for you yet.

[ Slides in closer to her, though, so that he can tease, ]

I don't know, do you think we can trust 'em to keep their hands to themselves?

[ Mixed reactions from the crowd: some are definitely quick to say yes, others laugh, others shout no, and at least one person boos. Lupine tosses them a wink, but he's already using nightingale — the wind picks up, a strong scent of fresh cut grass, leaves dancing in the air... and then the one leaf, big enough for him to hop onto. ]

[sangreine]

[ Finally, someone who enjoys screwing with the crowd as much as she does! It's pointless to argue with them, so manipulating them is clearly the only way. ] And you trust me to keep my hands to myself? And here I thought we were getting to know each other.

[ A winning smirk toward the crowd as she hops up onto that leaf. See ya, stalkers! ...At least until they inevitably get followed into the store. ]

I'm not sure what to make of the lack of nickname. Am I that complicated?

1/2

[at_heart]

[ Chuckles. Simply: ]

Who said I wanted you to.

[ He gathers her up, since he has to be carrying her for this to work, then gains altitude pretty fast. ]

[at_heart]

—And I mean, maybe. I'm definitely not gonna tell anyone they're simple when I'm still getting to know them.

[ Warm, rumbly laughter. ]

But in your case, there's also the small matter of already knowing an Ali and a Rene and a Ren...

[ Nicknames should be unique, okay. ]

[sangreine]

[ Happily gathered up, she blows a kiss to the faceless crowd as they shout their dismay that the two of them aren't planning to put on more of their show in the middle of the street.
Not that it was a horrible idea, but she's not going to turn down an offer for new clothes. ]

[ On the subject of him not expecting, or indeed wanting, her to behave herself, she pushes his hood just out of the way enough to mess with him a little. He can concentrate and still "drive", she's fairly sure, so she stretches up to nibble at his neck. (Sure the request was for her to get the hickey out of this, but whatever, turnabout or something. Besides, options are limited in this position.) ]

You'll figure something devastatingly clever out, I'm sure. [ she murmurs during a brief second while her mouth is free. Technically Alizarin is already a nickname, just a rather long one. ]

[at_heart]

[ He sure can, though that gets another warm laugh. Hey there~. Hnn. ]

But no pressure, right?

[ Aliza, Liza... ]

How's Zari strike you.

[sangreine]

[ A rumbling hum as she considers that option, and she drags her sharp fangs along his collarbone (no attempt, however, to draw any blood). ]

I don't mind it. [ Well and truly she doesn't give a damn what he calls her, but ] I need to hear how it sounds while you're breathless before I know how well I like it. [ He is way too much fun to flirt with. ]

[at_heart]

[ Okay, a soft catch to his breathing. Lupine pauses, then returns his focus on the department store. Most of the way there already; it'd be a 10 minute walk from the hotel, so this should be ~5 minutes. ]

I'll... make sure to demonstrate before we're done here.

[ Pretty sure he'll have ample opportunity. ]

[sangreine]

Wonderful. We can get the crowd's reaction too. [ Much as she's not a fan of the fanbase as a concept, she's a big fan of flaunting the fact that she doesn't care about making a big, explicit scene in front of them. ]

[ And yes, they're all over the department store, peeking into dressing rooms and all that. Ask her how she knows. ]

I'm not distracting you, am I? [ Biting his neck a little harder (does this qualify as pretending to be a vampire? She'll think on it) and sucking hard on the skin to redden it, clearly wanting an affirmative answer. ]

[at_heart]

[ Chuckling, low in his throat. Yeah, wouldn't want to disappoint the fans. ]

—Well, it's definitely a good thing I don't have to maintain constant focus to keep us airborne.

[ Is that enough of an answer. Maybe the way he bites his lip helps. ]

[sangreine]

Mmm. [ It helps something, maybe not as intended if it wasn't supposed to be encouragement. ] If only more of my limbs were free, I could be a better one. And save some of that lip for me.

[ But they'll be there soon, right? She can keep the good stuff under her cap for a couple of minutes but patience really is not her strongest virtue. ]

[at_heart]

[ Close enough. Another thirty seconds, and he's bringing them in for a landing, his pulse noticeably quicker now. ]

Oh... there's plenty to go around.

[ Verging on husky. He hops off the leaf a few feet from the ground, landing gracefully. The front doors are right there, but he doesn't rush to put her down, a feeding little kiss on her mouth instead with a flicker of cold metal in it when his piercing brushes her lips. ]

[sangreine]

[ She had been humming with satisfaction, abbreviated when his piercing touches her mouth. She pulls back just a hint, both curious and impish. ]

Oh, you're just full of surprises. Let me see that.

[ By "see" she doesn't mean with her eyes, which will be evident as she pulls him back into one hell of a kiss, good and thorough, seeking that tongue stud. ]

[at_heart]

[ A soft laugh muffled into her mouth. He's demonstrative here, too, offering up his tongue and swirling it around hers. A little silver barbell through the center of his tongue, just far back enough that it doesn't always show when he talks, and the hole's pleasantly sensitive in a way he's definitely not used to just yet. ]

[sangreine]

[ It takes her a long moment to pull back, and she doesn't get far. ] Damn, that's interesting.

[ The crowd is thinner here, but of course they notice the show being put on and flock over with commentary: everything from wolf whistles to get a room! to take it off! ]

[ Alizarin chuckles, tossing the assembled a cheeky smile, ] That's the idea, don't worry.

[ She grabs his arm or shirt or whatever's handy, and tugs him toward the doors. ] C'mon, we have quite a list to get through.

[at_heart]

[ Warm laughter, at her or the crowd reaction or both. He's very content to be tugged, sliding up behind her. Does not seem to have any particular impulse around opening the door versus having it opened for him. ]

So we do.

[ New outfit (maybe just lingerie doing a flimsy attempt to pass for clothing?), grope, get thrown down and fondled, something very nice with chocolate... ]

I'd say I like the way your fans think, but I don't wanna give them too much credit for your ideas.

[sangreine]

I'm counting on you to get plenty of you own ideas, don't worry.

[ She shoves the doors open, not especially holding it so much as putting so much force into it that it takes them a moment to close. She does stop yanking him around, though. ]

I'll grab the chocolate, you pick something for me to wear, then I'll meet you up at the dressing rooms? [ Much as she'd like to have several little trysts behind shelves along the way, this is more efficient. ]

[ She does run a finger along the hem of his skirt as she speaks, so there's that. ]

tags this for Very Specific reasons

[at_heart]

[ —hnnn, well. Who said he minded being yanked, though. ] [ Another — laugh, deeper in his throat, and he watches her make her pretty little exit. ]

Second floor for most of the clothes. But fourth floor for lingerie, so... might depend on how long it takes you to come back.

[ Little salute at her back. ]

poor Lupine ;;

[sangreine]

[ Leaving a swirl of laughter behind as she leaves, she makes her way with reasonable efficiency to somewhere chocolate is available, and then at the crowd's urging makes one more quick stop before trying the clothing section first. If he's not there, she'll be extra amused as she makes her way to the fourth floor. ]

[ Wherever she finds him, she grins and dangles a bag from her fingers. ] Ready when you are.

snorfle i mean, so far only Good has come of it

[at_heart]

[ Look, they're not satisfied with what you've got on, you have to take it up a notch. ] [ He's still digging through racks when he hears her voice, and then he gives her a crooked smile. ]

Heh, hopefully. You've got some options here.

[ A lot of this is gonna be down to taste, and — well, he doesn't really know what her tastes are, apart from 'she doesn't hate what she's got on'. ]

We'll start with 'most like actual clothes, maybe'.

[ Holds up a dress. By certain definitions, anyway. ]

I guess we'll see!

[sangreine]

[ Taste, eh she's fairly flexible. She's more concerned with whether someone else likes it, and how much, than whether she does especially. ]

Pretty. Nemesis picked me out something similar. [ Which is to say, she likes it, but sort of already did this version. ] Let's see the others.

<3

[at_heart]

[ Eyebrows up to his hairline for a second, because Nemesis did what now. ] [ But hey, focusing. ]

Heh, sure. Progressively less like clothes.

[ Setting the dress down, he picks up this little number, in crushed velvet. ]

[sangreine]

[ Didn't picture that, hm? (Well, now he's probably picturing it, it was a particularly pretty one in her opinion, even if the dressing part wasn't nearly as fun as the reverse.) ]

Not bad, without the tassels. [ It'd work well with her heeled boots, which is a plus. ] But you know I've got to see them all.