thefarshore | Video/Action ♔ from Apollo

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Video/Action ♔ from Apollo

[ Video ]

Posted: September 13
From: Apollo

[ "CelePara Prince Hour!"

After the accompanying trumpet fanfare, the curtains draw back. As usual, Hibiki is seated upon her throne. Today she's wearing a newly-completed outfit, custom-ordered from Sadly-Not-Pri-Paris.

What an encouraging nap she's recently had! And what an amazing idea she'd hit upon when awakening! ]

Everyone, I've kept you waiting. Allow me to soothe your hearts with some excellent news.

[ A screen lowers behind her head, displaying a number of silhouettes highlighted against a golden background. Those who know them may recognize Wendy, Natsuru, Kuroyukihime, Elfnein, and Chinatsu.

Hibiki indicates the screen with a purple rose she's pulled out of nowhere. ]

I, number one in all primensions, wish to crown the number one in CelePara Talent Agency. Like jewels illuminated by the rigor of cutting and polishing, so too do I wish both Shores' entertainment to become.

[ The silhouettes light up with sparkly outlines: pink for Wendy, blue for Natsuru, purple for Kuroyukihime, green for Elfnein, and red for Chinatsu. ]

As a special present, I'll permit your assistance. In six days, on September 19, these young ladies shall participate in an idol competition! Its name is:

[ Pause. So the name of the contest can unscroll itself on the screen. ]

The Magnifique CelePara Idol GrandPrix!

Each contestant shall perform and your votes will be tallied. The victor shall receive an entire day in which I devote myselves to them. You'd like to see your favorite receive such a prize, wouldn't you?

[ Hibiki smirks over her rose. She knows you would. ]

I'm counting on you. Now, in consecration of our promise today....a sample of brilliance.

[ Hibiki kisses the center of the rose and tosses it at the camera. Its petals swirl off in a flurry of sparkles, and when they drop, the lights have gone down. When they go up, Hibiki is seated upon her throne in a different outfit.

She has also launched right into this. Those who have been here long enough to remember Hibiki founding her talent agency in the first place - or anyone who ever has gotten bored enough to scroll the BBS archives - may recognize this routine.

That's all right. No matter how many times she performs it, it's still sublime. ]

[ Action ]

[ Maybe you have something to say about this announcement. Maybe you're one of the people who got silhouetted on screen without Hibiki consulting you about it beforehand. Maybe you're one of the people who got silhouetted on screen and you haven't even accepted Hibiki's CelePara invitation yet. Maybe you just want to annoy her.

Fear not! Hibiki is available for comment in person due to relaxing on her lawn, though one can't quite call it "sunbathing" when she's got a beach umbrella erected. Still, she's getting into the "last gasps of summer" mood: the hill upon which she can be found features an illusion of tropical greenery, she's spread out on a white wooden beach chair, and she's got a fancy drink in her hand.

Her legs might be more noticeable, though. They just. Keep going. ]

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[uM. HM. THAT'S. THAT'S SURE A THING HE JUST WATCHED.]

[Garry needs a moment to compose himself, here.]

That's... definitely an interesting thing you have prepared.

...When did you have time to change like that..?

Such feats can only be witnessed at CelePara Talent Agency.

[ SHE CHEATED AND USED HER GOD POWERS.

SHE WILL NEVER SAY THAT. ]

So.... Everyone who works at your agency can do that kind of thing?

They have been dyed in my genius.

[ Everyone who works at her agency enjoys the benefit of Hibiki using her powers to accent their performance. So this is not a lie!

It is also not necessarily a truth. Baby steps. ]

[...Wow. No wonder this person is in show business. That's definitely the kind of pretentiousness that comes from an artist. Don't ask Garry how he knows this.]

I see... Will we be casting votes over the BBS, then?

Time shall reveal all.

[ If you reveal too much, too soon, you wreck the dramatic tension. Respect this, please. ] Your interest in the revolution, however, shall not be forgotten.

[ When one is interacting directly with fans, a personal touch never hurts. ]

[This is perhaps one of the most information-unwilling announcements he's ever seen.... Although he admittedly has a small sample size to draw from.]

[There's no time to make that criticism, however. Instead, he blinks in surprise at being addressed like that.]

Oh- good to hear. [Revolution, what-] Well, I'll look forward to the performances.

We'll await your vote.

[ It's about time her performers began gathering likes. They will need them when this world unites with PriPara and they all immediately rank up. ]

[But why does her god have so much leg- ]

[Wait, that's not why she'd come up here. Wendy had been taking care of some dishes when the message had beeped across her phone, and she'd spent a good few minutes trying to remember if Hibiki had ever mentioned that to her or shown any signs of coming up with the idea at all. And really, up until today...]

[So here she is in one of her cute dresses and not "taking care of chores" outfits, hands behind her back as she peers at her sunbathing god.]

There's a Grandprix?

[What even is that, anyway]

There is. You'll enter?

[ Hibiki puts aside her tropical drink, the better to fold her hands atop her body and smirk up at Wendy from the lawn chair. Her shinki picks things up fast.

Furthermore, Wendy's particular theatrical preferences are specialized, so - ] It's all right if you don't wish to sing.

Yeah, of course. [She's wanted to get more involved in the performance side of things for a while, now. And while it's good that she doesn't have to sing.... Her brow furrows a little.] I've been practicing my singing a little on my own time.... But I'm not sure how good it is yet.

Perhaps this would make a good challenge, then.

[ The idea that Wendy might be actively bad at singing does not occur to Hibiki. Wendy is her shinki, and therefore does everything well. ] Still, a rose that blossoms on its own time smells the sweetest.

[ Wendy, singing....she's so proud! And willing to wait for her ultimate performance, should her shinki so choose. ]

Well... I'll think about it until then, I guess. [She can always practice both and, if she doesn't like how she's doing, she can simply cut it from the routine. Easy as that.]

Did you tell the others about this before you made the announcement?

[Because Wendy will bet 500 yen she didn't.]

That would hardly test their skills.

[ She didn't just not tell them.

She neglected to tell them on purpose. ]

[Hibiki no]

[Wendy squints for a moment, nose scrunched up in disbelief at this utter hogswash, before letting out a slow breath.]

But if they don't know, then they won't come.

[ Hibiki twitches her shoulders in the evocation of a shrug. Grandly. It is a grand twitch, restrained yet eloquent. ] They'll hear my message.

[ Someone in this conversation has the common sense of a ten-year-old girl. ]

[And it's not the one who looks like a ten year old girl. While Hibiki is distracting herself with her own elegance, Wendy subtly rolls her eyes.]

[Maybe she should make a call to some people...]

Are we going to have outfits available and stuff like that?

Of course.

[ Generosity is an important part of being Shikyoin Hibiki! On her terms! ]

CelePara Talent Agency shall want for nothing.

[ They certainly don't want for a CEO who knows what she's doing. ]

Great! [That's one thing she won't have to worry about, then.] I think that's all I'll need, then....

You have an idea of where we're going to perform?

The venues in the temple will suffice.

[ This gives Wendy an advantage, though Hibiki isn't thinking about that.

She'll be playing on the home field. ]

[That's sure enough to make her grin, and Wendy gives a small hop.]

Great! I'll go come up with a routine right now!

[She's going to have to haul ass if she wants to be even a little ready, after all.]

Your passion is noted.

[ Should she include Wendy more in her plans for CelePara Talent Agency....? Someone of her skills will surely help Hibiki achieve her goal. ]

[Natsuru's in her practice room when she checks her phone and sees the announcement. A Grand Prix? In six days? And she's performing???

This isn't exactly surprising, given Hibiki's cavalier attitude towards practice and rehearsal. Natsuru does have some routines she's been working on that she has yet to use on an actual stage. But the short notice catches her off-guard... as does the prize. Devoting herself to...?

Wh-What does that even mean, and why is Natsuru blushing so hard just thinking about it?! She closes her phone for now, throwing herself back into her practice for a good half hour more just to distract herself and clear her mind so she can think of how exactly to prepare for a performance in six days.

It's after all of that that she finally comes out, and eventually finds Hibiki relaxing on a beach chair on the lawn. For once, her gaze isn't instantly magnetically drawn to Hibiki's eyes, not when there's so much leg on display. Somehow she's even more easily flustered now that she's seen everything that one time at a hot spring. Every new context accents Hibiki's charms in a different way, and every moment of noticing this makes Natsuru's heart flutter anew. Not that she realizes how much or how easily she's affected by such things.]

Hibiki-sama...

[She speaks softly, as she approaches and sits nearby.]

I saw the announcement. Was that Wendy-san and Elfnein-chan, too? We're really all performing? And just in six days?

[ Hibiki makes sure to keep very still while Natsuru is taking in the...surroundings. She won't move until addressed, in fact, and that's to crane her neck, the better to elegantly remove her sunglasses.

The fact that this more or less flips her bangs is all part of the plan. ] That's right. Are you excited?

[ Glasses - off. Eyes - up. Gaze - met. Lips - smiling.

Yes, Hibiki is definitely hoping for...excitement. ]

Y-Yeah...

[She blushes, and nervously touches her hair while briefly glancing away from the brilliance that is eye contact with Hibiki. If she incidentally steals a glance at other attributes, that is purely coincidental.]

I-I mean, yes! I was kinda wondering when we'd perform on stage again!

[Still, in six days? She can't hide that she's still nervous.]

[ Hibiki intuits this nervousness like the concerned and kind mentor she is. She softens her smile. ]

You're fluttering.

[ STAY TUNED FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THIS STATEMENT. ]

Eh?

[That softer smile and that statement are both completely unexpected. Natsuru has to take a moment, looking slightly confused. What does she mean by that...?]

Like a baby bird wobbling on the edge of its nest....

[ Hibiki sets her drink aside and sits up. Without warning. She tries to take Natsuru's hand in both her hands. One is cool from the drink and one is very warm. ]

It's all right. I know you can fly.

[There is no 'try'. Natsuru's hand is soon clasped between Hibiki's, and the girl's cheeks flush along with a small, familiar gasp. Hibiki inspires so many feelings, and the confidence she shows in her especially has an effect at this very moment.]

Yeah...

[There's a brief pause before she even realizes the word has passed her lips.]

I-... I mean... thank you.

[ Hibiki's smile shifts to something slightly sharper, pleased. With Natsuru, or with herself, it's difficult to say, but perhaps down the line they're the same thing anyway. ]

This is a good chance for you. I'm looking forward to seeing how you choose to take it.

[ That should guarantee Natsuru's best. A responsive audience is so gratifying! ]

[ ...she watches the entire announcement with interest. Six days. Well... six days is certainly better than 24 hours. It'll give her time to prepare, at least. Maybe she can wrangle her god into going shopping with her. The man has taste when it comes to clothes at least, she can give him that much.

Then there's a matter of a song... of choreography... will six days really be enough?

The prize itself. Well. It isn't as if she'd expected anything less from someone like Hibiki-kun to offer her time as a prize. If she wins, then why not? If she loses, no skin off her nose. What appeals to her is the challenge.

With that, she switches her phone to record a video.

She's reclined in her seat, one arm resting on the armrest with her chin resting on the other hand. It's almost a mirror to Hibiki's throne. ]

I accept your challenge, Hibiki-kun. Please expect a performance worthy of the name Celepara in six days time.

[ The Black King joins the battle. ]

[ The deliberate posing pleases the Perfect Beauty Knight. This is true resonance. This is true genius. ]

I would expect nothing less. Show me your figure in the moment of flight.

[ She can't speak in nothing but wing metaphors to Tsubasa anymore; Tsubasa....the Heavens were very rude in removing Tsubasa. Fortunately, she was not Hibiki's only outlet for such things.

You're doing everyone a favor, Hime. Who knows what'd happen if Hibiki didn't have anyone to metaphor at. ]

[ Listen, it keeps her on her toes... ]

I have every intention. The way I see it, it'll be a good way to see how far I've come as a performer.

[ And leaning forward, pressing her fingertips together. ]

Now then... are there any parameters or am I allowed to fly as I wish...?

The sky is yours. However...

[ Hibiki has an Idea.

It is automatically a Good Idea, because it occurred to her, and not to someone who is not her. Occasionally other people have Good Ideas, but in Hibiki's experience, that's unreliable.

Hime's Ideas tend to be worth pursuing, however. So if she receives inspiration from someone who comes up with nothing but Good Ideas... ]

Do you remember what I showed you? In the arcade?

[ It was a private, personal lesson from Shikyoin Hibiki. Surely it's the last thing Hime thinks about as she closes her eyes each night. ]

[ lbr, Hibiki, she thinks of a lot of things before she goes to bed. Sure, these lessons are one of them but there have been other things...

But she does nod. ]

I suspect you'd want me to incorporate that into my performance..?

It's guaranteed to improve your performance.

[ After all, of the many kinds of entertainment out there, PriPara is the Very Best. Imitating it in the hopes of inviting it to connect to this puniverse can only result in thrilling the audience like never before. ]

Given how it's a lesson from your own instruction, I have no doubt.

[ It's an added challenge so it's one she'll willingly accept. ]

Is there anything else I should keep in mind?

Leave the rest to me.

[ Cyalume Change.

She's going to make you Cyalume Change. ]

Of course. I'll leave the embellishments to you, as always.

[ She does give a small nod of her head back. ]

Until then, Hibiki-kun. Please look forward to my performance.

Edited 2017-12-11 13:17 (UTC)

I anticipate it.

[ said with a smile that says this waiting is, itself, a pleasure

maybe this is why she's late to everything all the time ]

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Video/Action ♔ from Apollo

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"mahou-chan's hand is warm, she says"

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