video ♔ from apollo

[priforprince]

From: Apollo
Date: March 22nd

CelePara Prince Hour!



[ The screen goes black for a second, then is filled with a logo declaring this broadcast something from "MPriM Pictures". The logo is a goat in an oval picture frame. Lifting its head, it bleats.

This is going to be good. ]



[ We cut to shaky-cam first-person footage of someone running through the streets of what looks like an old Japanese village. The runner's breathing can be heard - ragged, desperate, and somehow huskily attractive.

"After him!" shout voices behind the running figure, who dodges an extremely strange-looking cow that happened to be in the frame for no good reason. "There's nothing left for him now!" ]



[ Sparkles fly as swords meet in midair. A silver-haired swordsman fights with a blue-haired one with a ponytail as a dog barks somewhere. Then we see the silver-haired swordsman holding onto a small blonde girl as she coughs, a conflicted look on "his" face. Brief shot of a small girl with brown hair looking on worriedly.

You should all know the voice in this voiceover. It's the only voice you ever need to memorize. ]

If what I hold dear in my heart is all that remains to me.....any dance is worth the struggle! I'll become a thief or even a villain!



[ The swordsman whirls, surprised, as a mask is cut from a female ninja's face. Red curls spill out, and auburn eyes blink at "him", then harden before charging. The two fight, though it looks more like dance choreography. ]

The fields of our love lie fallow, but I won't turn back! The path I've decided to blaze will never waver!



[ Rapid cuts. Familiar faces from the Far Shore scroll by, all acting various parts - with the odd exception that all the female roles in these scenes seem to be swooning over the lead character, and that cow from earlier (which is a little lumpy, come to think of it, as if it isn't a real cow at all but two people in a cow suit on a mission) keeps popping up in almost every scene, unable to to be edited around. ]



[ The swordsman fights and scowls and suffers, beaten down but never defeated. Raising "his" sword, he throws back his head and howls. ]

THIS IS MY REVOLUTION!!

[ SUDDEN CUT TO BLACK. THEN LETTERS. ]



[ "March 27, 2017", says smaller text as it appears in this text's wake.

"One-Time Screening Only

Temple of Apollo

Special Performance After The Show"

And we go back to the samurai, music swelling behind him as if he's about to start singing. He twirls his sword, prepares for battle. ]

Now, the curtain rises on the golden age!



[ Thirty seconds later, a small purple stuffed goat toy with a silver platter attached to the platform it uses to wheel around will bump into your front door by way of knocking. It will have an envelope on the platter, containing enough tickets for your entire temple entourage.

How good your seats are....depends on how much Hibiki likes you.

Look forward to it. ]

Comments

[cloakedinruins]

Out of curiosity though, I do have one question that comes to mind from what I've seen. Would you mind if I ask you it now, or after?

[priforprince]

Go ahead.

[ YOU HAVE BEEN GRANTED PERMISSION

WHAT AN HONOR ]

[cloakedinruins]

[ Thank you for this honor, he will try not to murder her now. ]

The brief display of sword work is unfamiliar to me. Did you use an expert in swordsmanship or is it artistic license?

[priforprince]

A thrilling drama necessitates some embellishment. The timing of the score must be considered, as well.

[ Hibiki smirks as she types. Whether or not she suspects his true opinion, she stands by her choreography. It is perfect. ] A genius thinks of everything.

[cloakedinruins]

[ Spare him a moment of time to respond as he groans and hides his face in his hands. ]

So a dramatic interpretation instead of a style from an actual sect. Did you have a hard time with the blades? Usually swings like that either need a weapon with a curved edge or non-steel to flow against air pressure.

[priforprince]

You truly are unfamiliar with cinema.

[ How quaint. ]

[cloakedinruins]

I find it rather dull, but that could be due to how underwhelming it can be.

[priforprince]

Unsurprising. This puniverse's offerings are particularly lackluster.

[ Except that one movie she starred in that everybody but a small cult of fans forgot about because that's what happens when a God stars in things.

But, if he's going to persist in his ignorance of stage fighting: ]

Stage blades are constructed for effect. Look forward to seeing them in the hands of someone who can unleash their true radiance.

[cloakedinruins]

Usually the narrator gets in the way of actually telling a story, I find. Messages can be in a story, but it shouldn't be forced in where it's not needed.

[ Basically he can enjoy a story when it decides to be a story instead of a vehicle pushing an agenda or sudden plot that makes no sense.

There is a reason why he never really got into theater during his college years. He always wanted a real weapon when he was put in the role of a prince. And that one time the teacher thought he would make a good villain had to spend an hour listening to Shen Wei take apart the villain's motives and then how to prevent the heroes from even starting their journey. ]

I was never any good with theater in college I guess.

[priforprince]

[ ....Somehow, Hibiki gets a chill when receiving these texts. How ominous. As if someone's been responsible for the sort of entertainment that gives her a headache...

Nonsense. He simply hasn't watched enough movies. All is well. All is well.

This is fine. ]

You're a realist, then?

[cloakedinruins]

[ He would be flabbergasted that she feels that way. He went for entertainment to shut his mind off, not to sit there as the show tells him how he should think. It might be the reason why he enjoys mindless pulp fiction and musicals where everyone dies.

Or Death is the main character, or the main character is a serial killer. Or pirates. Just ridiculous fun. ]

No, I use to teach Bio-engineering at the university until recently.

[priforprince]

[ They have "pirates" in common! That is something! ]

More concerned with the scientific, then.

I see.

[ whatever she sees and whatever reality is may not be even remotely in the same section of the phone book

but she's satisfied ]

[cloakedinruins]

Yes. I suppose that means I'm not very imaginative.

[ Well that and the fact that he has used weapons for a very long time so never finds movie fighting that realistic. ]

[priforprince]

Fear not.

CelePara Talent Agency features a genius whose tastes align with yours.

[ that's where that sense of deja vu was coming from, she realizes belatedly

this conversation is like trying to give cues to elfnein ]

[cloakedinruins]

Really? That's nice to hear. Sometimes I do feel like I'm too boring to understand such things, but if you say someone there knows. Well, I wouldn't feel so alone in being a little confused.

[priforprince]

Pay special attention to the idol named "Elfnein".

The performance ability I've unveiled within her is sure to speak to your practical heart.

[ celepara may be made up of disparate idols, to meet all needs

but guess who's taking

quite a bit

of the credit ]

[cloakedinruins]

I shall, thank you.

[ And look at how the whole idea of her taking credit goes flying over his head. Either that, or he is just way too polite to say otherwise. ]

if he hasn't met elfnein....they *would* get along. magical nerds!

[priforprince]

Enjoy the show.

[ Hibiki decides to hang up before Shen Wei says things that give the impression he has the upper hand in the conversation again. He does that sometimes. It's vexing, and puzzling.

No one ever has the upper hand over Shikyoin Hibiki....! ]