★ my genius, flawless idol for life

[liedol]

⭐ Who: Ai and you!
⭐ When: its fucking dember
⭐ Where: Mostly in Yumemigaoka, with some planned Hunts and stuff in the Dream Sphere
⭐ What: Wow, that was pretty decidedly awful!!! Unfortunately, there's no rest for the wicked OR the DU's idol so even though she's a little running on fumes, Ai's still got a busy December ahead of her...! With DU work and idol work and holiday obligations all on her plate, the real question is: how does she ever find time to sleep???

Comments

[liedol]

Heehee, it's what we're here to do. You guys are the ones doing the hard work of learning and figuring things out so it's up to us to support you every step of the way. Then one day, you'll be the ones looking out for Dreamers learning the ropes just like you guys were.

[ Is it hard to imagine when you're still fumbling through things? Ai doesn't remember. Not just because it's been so long but because she'd set her sights so high so early that she'd committed to faking it until she made it. She'd needed to pay back Odette and Akira for what they did for her — ifs and buts and the question of whether or not she was good enough never even came into the equation. ]

So keep working hard and I'll keep doing everything I can to support you, okay?

[i_peace]

[He can't help but stare a little wide eyed at Ai-Doll after the... Motivational speech? It's probably because she's in Mentor Mode, but it makes Tycoon feel a little uneasy nonetheless.

Tycoon swallows then pushes himself, carefully, back onto his feet. His weapons disappear in a shower of green sparkles before he dusts himself off]

So- [voice crack- He coughs to clear his throat then tries again] Sorry, um... So, what brings you out here anyway? I know we need to do patrols but...

[liedol]

Hmm.

[ Now that's a suspicious pause, especially from Ai of all people. She straightens up as well, brushing her skirt down as she goes and gives Tycoon a little smile. ]

Call it... half patrol, half investigation. I got a little curious... or I guess I should say, I've been curious about something for a while but I wasn't sure how to go about looking into it. So it's just my good luck you're here today, as it turns out.

[ Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaam. ]

[i_peace]

...

[he's curious at the pause but doesn't pick up on how suspicious it is. Or, at least, he doesn't want to make assumptions about Ai-Doll's intentions-

But then she starts beaming at him in a way that's all too familiar. The way his tail puffs up to nearly double it's original volume should be indicative enough of how Tycoon has just realized he's probably in danger. He's gotten a little bit better though, not shrinking back nearly as much as he did the first time Ai-Doll turned that beaming smile on him!]

E-eh? Is that... so... Um...

I don't know how much help I'll be? But if it's something I can do, I don't mind.

[liedol]

[ Ai takes in the look on his face... and then giggles, her own softening a little in turn. ]

Ah, I promise it's not a huge deal! Really, it's more something I was hoping you could tell me.

[ Her expression turns a little more sober, even if her smile is still fixed in place. ]

You helped out with saving Mio-chan, right?

[i_peace]

[he relaxes slightly as she softens that beaming smile]

...

[Tycoon fidgets slightly with the accessory attached to his waist before answering. What did Mio's now gone Distortion have to do with Ai-Doll being here?]

You could say that... [a laugh] Even though Chaosbringer did most of the work.

[liedol]

Aah, that sounds like our Zeke-kun alright. Such an overachiever.

[ She laughs, her voice fond and proud. Zeke's been out from under her guidance for long enough that she can't even pretend he's one of hers anymore like with Amane, but she'll never stop being proud of just how far he's come.

But that's a topic for a nicer day. ]

But the important part is... you remember what being that deep into her dream felt like, right? I think it'd be hard to forget.

[i_peace]

[...]

[he gapes a little, at a loss of words. To describe it? At being asked at all? Who knows. Tycoon abruptly looks away, frowning, before slowly looking back at Ai-Doll]

A little bit... [a nervous little 'heh'] Yeah, 'hard to forget' is a way of putting it.

[liedol]

So you'd know for sure if you'd felt it before or since. Right?

[ She doesn't even wait for a response before she goes on. ]

Because I've been wondering. The Vale just disappeared for a little while before everything happened with Mio-chan — I almost forgot about it with all the rest of it but... I've been wondering if maybe there's not a connection we're overlooking.

[i_peace]

... Did it? But nothing like that happened before Ango-san's Distortion, right?

[he looks a little lost even with the explanation. Tycoon's been feeling a little more comfortable fighting in the Dream Sphere, but so far as knowledge was concerned...

...

It's not as if he has any reason to distrust Ai-Doll though. He just isn't sure what she meant by 'feeling'. Like the uncomfortable chill down one's spine when they feel like they're being stared at? The sinking feeling of knowing you've forgotten something?]

No... I'll do my best. Even if it's unrelated, it's better to get some sort of confirmation, right?

[liedol]

Mm. As far as we know.

[ That's what she says - but she's thinking about Dreamer Gilded and what Ford had said after waking up. The idea that Stabilization could have something to do with all this. And what had they all run around doing after the Vale first vanished?

It's not really anything close to being evidence. But it's enough to make her wary. ]

What I want you to do is pay as close attention as you can anytime you're over on this side - but especially here. If you can pick up anything or if it starts feeling strange like things did with Mio-chan then I want you to let me know straight away.

[i_peace]

[he blinks, confused]

Is that... [it had been overwhelming before, when he was in the middle of Mio's distortion so soon after arriving in Yumemigaoka... But he'd been through both Distortions, and if he compares his experiences, maybe that'll help narrow things down. Maybe.

It's all he could think to do at the moment]

All right. [a pause] Oh, should I just submit a report to the DU then?

[liedol]

Mhm! [ And just as quick as it'd gone, her smile's right back. ] Or you can come tell me yourself. If you just pass on a message that you're wanting to talk to me, I'll assume it's about this. I should be able to make some time for you easily.

[ especially for something as potentially important as this. ]

Don't feel like you've gotta go out of your way, obviously! Just... keep an eye out when you're doing your usual rounds, okay?

[i_peace]

[oh, that's right, Ai-Doll's an actual idol (ha) in the Waking World, isn't she? He... Might have gotten chewed out by his sister when she was checking up on him one night. "How could you not recognize her?!" and "Is she as pretty in real life as she is on TV?!" among other things that Keiwa may or may not have tuned out or politely declined answering.

He's fiddling with the accessory on his belt again]

Um... [how do people just ask-??] You probably have enough people asking in the Waking World, let alone here in the Dream Sphere but... I wanted to send Nee-chan something for the holidays.

[then he shrinks back a little bit, ears folding down. Nope, Ai-Doll has enough to worry about as it is without people trying to get her autograph in the Dream Sphere] It's probably rude of me to try asking, nevermind...

[liedol]

[ ... Oh, hold on, that's so sweet? It's one thing for someone to ask on their own behalf but having Keiwa, who seems pretty tuned out from the other side of her career, ask with that guilty look on his face... come on. She's not gonna turn him down. It's Christmas, after all. ]

Heehee, do you want me to sign a few things for her? I don't mind at all. Especially not for a Christmas present.

[ That and... weirdly enough, people usually don't ask, at least not on this side. Maybe they all have the same thoughts that Keiwa does. ]

Do you have anything in particular I should sign? Or will anything do? I can write up a little Christmas card to, if it'd make her happy.

[i_peace]

[he perks up - he might have been trying to think of a segue away from this actually - when Ai mentions she doesn't mind. You didn't hear it from Keiwa, but he had been so relieved when the cake-handshake event was restricted to only Yumemigaoka. Sara had some self-control, but he couldn't imagine how many of those cakes would pop up in their aunt's cafe following an attempt to secure a ticket. When Ai agrees, his face lights up, because it's guaranteed to be something that his sister would like (she said on multiple occasions that she'd like anything he got her but that was not the point-) but he's quickly overwhelmed at the questions]

Ah- no, thank you, it's- Well... I bought one of your Christmas singles for her so just that should be all right. You're probably busy enough as it is with the handshake events on top of everything else, I wouldn't want to trouble you.

[liedol]

[ Brightly; ] It's no trouble! It only takes a minute for me to sign something, so if there's anything else you were thinking of sending to her, I can sign that too. Ah, and maybe I could write out a Christmas postcard as well? This year's photos of the lights were really pretty...

[ s-somehow, this is even worse than her being entirely unenthused?? If she realises she's going to fluster him to death, she just barrels on regardless. ]

Just bring it all down to my office next time you've got a chance and I'll get it all done. You'll want to send it ASAP so it can get to her in time for Christmas, right?

[i_peace]

[th-this is a lot to take in. There are suddenly so many options being thrown at him when Keiwa had been expecting, maybe, one signed CD single MAYBE... Tycoon stutters helplessly before Ai-Doll's enthusiasm, swept along the same as usual. He regains his footing when she - rightfully - points out the time frame his post might need to get back to his sister]

Yes! Thank you very much.

[and he bows to her from the waist. For someone who isn't into idols, this seems like it means a lot to him if that smile is anything to go by]

I'll try to swing by your office today or tomorrow. [a (slightly embarrassed) laugh] You probably hear this a lot too, but Nee-chan's a huge fan so this will definitely make her holidays. Thank you so much.