ioduanlogs | [EVENT] Moon and Mirrors (Welcome Mingle Log)

[EVENT] Moon and Mirrors (Welcome Mingle Log)

Characters: ALL
Date: January 15
Location: At the Dreaming Bridge and all over Aifaran!
Situation: A large influx of Dreamfolk arrive in time for one of the Lunar Festivals, and they're all invited!
Warnings/Rating: N/A

A surprising amount of Dreamfolk have arrived within a short time frame - a peculiarity remarked upon by a number of Aifaran's residents. It is unusual in that it coincides with a lunar festival, one which only happens every fifty or so years.

Newcomers will find the streets packed with all sorts of people, stalls of fried and sugared foods, carnivalesque games and rides, and all other manner of things to do. Merchants are very keen to get their wares out there, and the stipend given may just burn a hole in your pocket when you see what's for sale.

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[ Hibiki, for her part, has turned and is striding back up the runway, smirking. What a splendid opportunity has presented itself. If she's going to take a respite from her primary career, she can think of few more acceptable tasks than spreading the news about how wonderful ~~PriPara~~ she is. ]

Much obliged.

[ She says to the selys, as it is lifted from her shoulders and she is offered a replacement, complete with a matching outfit for herself. The new snake is still getting into place around her shoulders when - what is that?

Hibiki peers out at the crowd. ] What's that ruckus?

[ That the fans are excited is nothing new. But did something squawk? ]

[It takes a good long moment, but the small mob does start to disperse once the rest of them realize that the rose has disappeared. Naesala hadn't kept hold of it, so someone must have snatched it away in the chaos without the other fans noticing. His meat-on-a-stick is gone, too, undoubtedly trampled into the ground.

Naesala pulls himself back up to his full height with an annoyed sound, spreading his wings out further to push some of them out of his personal space. His feathers are ruffled, and he has to tug his jacket back in place, dusting it off as he glares at the people still milling around him.]

Vultures, all of you! Don't you know better?!

[Then he turns that glare over in Hibiki's direction. Oh yes, he blames her for this.]

[ Why is she being glared at?! Hibiki bristles; the selys around her neck, distressed, fluffs up its frill and tries to look intimidating but is mostly just extremely pretty.

But this won't do. She offers an appeasing smile, only slightly sharp - remember who's in charge here. ] Now, now. Wilder things have been done in the name of amore.

[ You're not going to cause a problem, right?

Right? ] Are you unhurt?

[ SHE CARES ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU, SO YOU'RE NOT GOING TO CAUSE A PROBLEM, RIGHT

The crowd, for its part, is now on its best behavior, aside from a group of shapeshifters who are trying to figure out the best texture to make their arms for autographs. ]

Oh, I'm sure, [Naesala responds sarcastically, still not giving Hibiki a very charitable look. Being asked that question does give him a little pause. This could certainly turn to his favor somehow, even if just to get a smidgen of payback for being so unfairly 'targeted' by the rose-throwing.]

Now that you mention it, my wing feels... augh! My wing!

[He stretches out his right wing a bit more, letting it dramatically flop downwards. Naesala can't bend those joints very freely, but he can at least put on the act of making it look like something was wrong. It was a trick he hadn't pulled since his childhood, but it had been occasionally useful back then.]

Now look what you've done!

...You're injured?!

[ It had been a rhetorical question!

The suddenness with which this injury has presented itself is...slightly suspicious. But Hibiki also isn't the sort to fail to take a cue an ad-libbing partner has given her.....

Undone by her own flawlessness. Genius is a heavy burden.

The crowd shrinks back, nobody wanting to be seen as responsible for the injury - they all buy it. Hibiki, knowing the show must go on, sighs. ]

...Come into the back. Let's settle this in a private milieu.

[ A handful of audience members look at each other, and then decide to all fall over. Help! They're hurt, too! ]

Quickly.

[Naesala has to fight hard to keep a smirk off of his face as he steps through the crowd, past those unlucky fans that hadn't had the idea to cause a ruckus this way. An observant person might notice that while he was holding his right wing low, it wasn't so low that it was brushing against the ground. He didn't want to get his feathers dirty, or worse, end up having someone step on the end of his wing.

He's then allowed into the roped-off staff area before being lead backstage, where he gives a soft sigh of relief.] Hmph, this is much better. You would think those people had just seen royalty.

[Really, he has no other frame of reference for what a 'celebrity' would be. Naesala has never seen a crowd nearly trample someone over a bard, after all.]

There's little difference.

[ Her preferred role is even that of a Prince. And not just any Prince. Why, she was crowned Mr. Handsome Universe Prince of the Year by the queen of the Paltic States, who remains a fan....

But a Prince dazzles more by example than mere reputation (though that helps). Once they're away from the crowd, Hibiki turns to speak to Naesala in private. ] Where is your injury?

[ And is there a staff member she can direct to get a medic, around?

The selys she's still wearing seems confused that it's not time to be swapped out for someone else yet. Maybe...it gets to stay on this perch? And perhaps investigate how this one is unlike any other perch it's ever had. ]

Hmph. Until you try your hand at ruling a country, I won't be so easily impressed.

[He turns towards Hibiki, looking rather unconcerned as he slowly raises his right wing back up, stretching it out before returning it behind his back. There's not even the slightest flash of pain on his face, either.]

It doesn't feel as though anything's broken, so it must only be a sprain. Lucky for you. But since you still inflicted a bothersome situation on me, the least you can do is stay and chat for a while.

You're a cunning fan.

[ She's impressed! And, as such, she shall bestow this favor. Hibiki crosses her arms - and legs, leaning against the nearest piece of furniture sturdy enough to support a Suave Princely Lean. ] Very well. As you didn't get to enjoy your original present, I'll grant you my time instead.

[ The selys is very confused now, but settles in to stay comfy here. ] Did you have particular questions?

[ Whether you're injured or not, you contrived this situation because you wanted to soak up the glory of being in her presence, correct? ]

[As pleased as he is by the compliment, he has to huff softly at mention of the 'present'.]

I wasn't trying to catch it. Besides, flowers lose their value too quickly for my tastes.

[Shaking his head, he continues,] At any rate, you said your name was Shikyoin? I take it you're another of the Dreamfolk here. ... Are you a bard, or some manner of mage?

[After all, he's never seen anything like that before. The rest of the runway models were almost boring in comparison.]

[ Hibiki smirks, glad for the chance to be someone's first experience with the amazing thing she is about to introduce them to. ] Superior to both.

[ Pause for effect. There are many things she could call herself - movie star, actor, model, general Celebrity - but only one thrills her every time she says it. ] I'm an idol. A PriPara idol.

It means I guarantee the highest level of entertainment.

[ It means she sells arcade game tickets to little girls, and to big girls who hit the "will buy anything with an attractive androgynous person on it" demographic. But the fourth wall, at least for now, is nice and secure. ]

[Superior to a mage? He wasn't quite sure that Hibiki knew what he meant. Unfortunately, the term 'idol' doesn't ring any bells at all, and it's likely obvious by the almost blankly neutral expression on his face.]

Ah. The only 'idols' I've ever heard of were religious statues. [And he's rather thankful that Hibiki's whole... thing didn't seem to be tied to a religion.]

Do you intend to keep doing the same here? Entertaining the masses like this?

Of course. Those who shine are destined to bestow their radiance on those fumbling in the dark.

[ She smirks. There is nothing she would rather do than put on shows.

Except maybe have a quiet day with some tea and movies, or take over an idol theme park to save it from incompetent middle management, but such experiences are heightened by having a concert at the end of them, too. ]

My brilliance attracted you, didn't it?

[Naesala can't help it, he practically bursts out laughing. That was rich! He hasn't yet met anyone with as much sheer confidence in their work, and he has to admit, that part is almost endearing.]

I enjoyed the show, if that's what you mean. I'm not one of those that fumbles in the dark, so I'm hardly in need of radiance like that.

[Whatever that means, Naesala. Way to be vague.]

... But if you're going to be putting on more shows, I might show up to one or two. Out of curiosity, if nothing else.

You'd be welcome.

[ Vague is fine with Hibiki. You played off her metaphor. She appreciates such conversational tricks.

Besides, it sounds like she's the first idol he's ever seen - what a deprived life. But she is benevolent: ]

I'll teach you the fullness of what idoldom means.

I'll be looking forward to it.

[Whether it's for the actual entertainment value, or to laugh at it, Naesala is sure he'd still find it worth attending. Perhaps not so much of the latter, since she did seem to have skill - but if Hibiki was so over the top doing everything, that would be a different matter.]

But I'm sure I've wasted enough of your time. I'll let you return to your stage and your fans.

Is your wing feeling better?

[ A CONCERNED HOST

eh, but she doesn't mind. You played your cards well. ]

Much better, thank you.

Good luck up on stage.

[Naesala turns to leave, offering her a brief wave before exiting the backstage area, joining the festival crowds once more.]

Au revoir.

[ Hibiki's just going to chuckle to herself before going to see what the event hosts need of her next. They'll have waited for her. Everyone always does. ]

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[EVENT] Moon and Mirrors (Welcome Mingle Log)

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