thefarshore | Deux ♔ Heaven’s BBS ♔ Video

[ I. Sparkling Knight ]

Posted: June 21
From: Anonymous

[ It’s the most peculiar thing. Without anyone’s willing it, or any clicks on the thread topic, a window pops up on the BBS of its own accord.

At first, there’s just static. Then, a countdown, grainy and jittery on the screen:

Followed by…darkness. Pure, unadulterated darkness, for several seconds more. The darkness lingers, undisturbed and silent, for several seconds, and is interrupted only by - a voice. It’s not yelling, it’s not whispering. It’s simply speaking, as if you and it are sharing an intimate moment together. It’s a sultry, deep voice. Regal, too. ]

Stellar nurseries. Cradles in the darkness of forsaken galaxies. Nestled to their bosom, a single gleam is born.

[ A flicker of golden light flashes in the center of the screen, then twinkles out. ]

To this world deprived of true radiance - appearing, lo, now on stage.

[ A trail of purple sparkles and rose petals streams through the darkness. ]

A new era dawns.

[ Lights up! Music up, immediately - the ringing of bells, the sounding of trumpets.

And the show begins. ]

Watch on YouTube

[ Lyrics are here. ]

[ When the performance is finished, the lights go down again, replaced by a sign written in ornate letters, with a sunburst in the corner: CELEPARA TALENT AGENCY, by SHIKYOIN HIBIKI. NOW SCOUTING.

And then the video switches itself off. But don’t worry. As Hibiki's very first boon to the world as a god, it's listed on a message board.

You can watch it as many times as you want. ]

[ II. Private to Natsuru, Felicia, & Maria - From Apollo ]

[ Hibiki’s sitting at a desk with a laurel pattern on a door behind her. She’s got her crown of golden laurels tucked behind her ears, too, except instead of wearing her usual purple jacket and trousers, she’s wearing a business suit. ]

Senou Natsuru. Felicia. [ A pause. ] Maria Cadenzavna Eve.

I have something to discuss with all of you. Please accept my invitation.

[ And Hibiki sends along a little attachment. It’s a purple envelope with a pink heart on it that shows you a fancy invitation if you click on it. Apparently she wants you all to stop by this afternoon.

Also, since the “paper” the invitation appears on is monogrammed, it looks like Hibiki took the time to program this herself. ]

I await your presence.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Oh! There's a small gasp of surprise when Hibiki steps out, causing Natsuru to stop right where she is. But the shock quickly softens into a happy, if somewhat shy, smile. The bouquet almost catches her by surprise too, even with it not being the first time Hibiki's given one to her. She nervously runs fingers through her hair with one hand while accepting the gift with the other.]

Thank you...

[That was a compliment for her dress too, wasn't it? She doesn't always understand how Hibiki speaks, but it always sounds so pretty and wonderful and makes her feel all warm and happy just to be noticed. She can't believe she was asked here in the same breath as Felicia and Maria...!]

Um, am I early?

[The invitation didn't mention a specific time, that she recalls.]

Promptness is a virtue.

[ Hibiki leads Natsuru down the hallway, deeper into the castle than her exhibit had been earlier. This whole place is opulent as all get-out. ] And I've prepared a suitable salon for while you wait.

[ They seem to be headed for a door now. ]

[Natsuru silently accepts that answer, her completely-infatuated smile remaining as they walk deeper into Hibiki's temple.]

I was surprised to hear you call Felicia-san and Maria-sama too. Have you been spending time with them?

[She's actually not jealous, as much as her wording might sound that way.]

After a fashion.

[ A single meeting is all that's required for a heart to know with whom it resonates. Especially when it's nearly whacked with an ice-covered volleyball.

Hibiki has weird standards.

Here is the aforementioned door. Hibiki opens it and stands aside. ] Please, enter.

[ This is a sitting room. Or, well, it was. Now, the bookshelves have been filled with books on the history of music, dance, and fashion - from around the world. Beautiful paintings of dancers have been hung on the walls. One corner has been taken up with a floor-length mirror, wooden floor, and a barre. There's even an old-school phonograph with a ton of records to choose from.

Overall, Hibiki has prepared a mini-library of the performing arts. As well as a small table (not the kind that requires unfolding) full of Natsuru's favorite snacks. Whether Natsuru has eaten them in front of Hibiki or not.

The little invisible goat gets around, okay.) ] I trust you'll find a way to occupy yourself.

[Funny, they both met Felicia almost the same way. Except in Natsuru's case, she melted the ice with her fire magic in a knee-jerk reaction.

That's not important now, though. What is important is the way Natsuru's eyes light up when she sees the room! There's still some slight embarrassment or awkwardness buried somewhere in the back of her mind, and yet the rest of her realizes that's silly as she paces through, glancing at the various books and paintings and records. The part that looks almost like a small dance studio even brings out a flicker of recognition. She... doesn't exactly remember, of course, but there's a familiarity about the layout.

Her biggest curiosity since she arrived here has been music and performance, and this is like a complete shrine to those things.]

Yes...

[Her voice comes out in a whisper, like she's in a daze. It only takes her half a second to recover.]

Um, it's wonderful! I wouldn't mind... looking around for a while.

[Yep, Hibiki sure has her number. Again.]

This is your room. [ Hibiki nods to how a placard on the door already has Natsuru's name on it. Then she nods to a door in the far wall, next to the bookshelves. ] I'll call you from there when everything is ready.

[ Until then, the place is yours to explore as you like! Read up on culture, experience some with the phonograph, even try some steps yourself with the mirror as your guide. Hibiki has left this all at Natsuru's discretion.

How much can the young lady improve herself, genius-style, from mere exposure? It merits investigation. And besides, Hibiki had a feeling this would please Natsuru.

Hibiki does intend to please the maidens who have placed their care in her trust. ]

[Natsuru blinks, her eyes wide in shock. Hibiki set aside this whole room? For her?!

She scans over the room again, the wonder in her eyes back in full force. She even clasps her hands together in her barely-contained excitement.]

Okay! I mean... thank you, Hibiki-sama.

[She dials herself back to the polite appreciation mostly out of embarrassment over how thrilled she is about this! She's already pacing over to the corner with the barre, letting her fingertips gently alight on it as she passes. It brings back memories of practice and exercises that she can't quite remember actually doing herself. But she can remember that they exist, and maybe even how to do a few. Glancing at her reflection in the mirror, she could imagine herself practicing dances in front of a mirror like this, or maybe even in a bigger studio with lots of other girls. Maybe it's just wishful thinking ~~or leftover desires from memories she doesn't have at the moment /cough/~~, but... Hibiki has encouraged her to pursue this course so far. And Maria's been supportive of her, too.

After a moment of taking it all in again, she glances back to see if Hibiki's still there. She hadn't heard her leave yet, but she assumes she has to go to prepare more...]

[ Hibiki has indeed taken her leave, but that doesn't mean she isn't happy that Natsuru is happy. Or that she doesn't intend to witness that happiness, both by calling for Natsuru when everyone has arrived and by having installed a secret security camera in this room.

But think nothing of that. It's a formality, to reassure herself that Natsuru remains delighted. A god is supposed to be omniscient, after all. ]

[Natsuru doesn't have a suspicious bone in her body, when it comes to Hibiki. Seeing that she's left, she thinks nothing else of it and proceeds to explore the room further.

She browses some of the books first, and even puts on some music after a minute. But she keeps coming back to that corner with the mirror and the barre, as if debating something. She doesn't know when Hibiki will call for her, after all. It'd be embarrassing if she tried something and failed!

Eventually, though, she gives in, and tries the first thing she can think of in that corner. It's just a few little exercises that spring to mind, as if they were a long-held habit. Anyone watching her, however, might notice that she's doing a series of simple dance warmups. And if no one comes in to stop her, she'll start improvising equally simple little dance moves to bits and pieces of the music playing on the phonograph. She doesn't even realize she's doing anything right... it's just acting on a fantasy as far as she can tell.]

[ She knows warmups? Without knowing she knows them? Hibiki watches more closely after noticing that. Her eyes narrow. It's not...talent....though...is it? Not....intuition. Something else. Muscle memory?

Shinki have amnesia...

Well, there's no need to rush to a conclusion. All Hibiki has to do is observe and guide the girl properly. Besides, the others will be here shortly.

She'll be calling for Natsuru soon enough. ]

Deux ♔ Heaven’s BBS ♔ Video

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