Happy Dreamerversary!

[beautifuldreamermods]

YUMEMIGAOKA

May is always a dicey time to have an outdoor event in Yumemigaoka but this year it seems like luck's on everyone's side. The morning of the 14th dawns with bright blue skies, beaming sunlight and a refreshing breeze - in other words, the perfect weather for an outdoor festival! As it does every year, the Dreamer Union is hosting its annual celebration of the first Dreamer Awakening now fifty-one whole years ago! Damn! Today's the day the entire community comes together to say happy anniversary, Dreamers!

Part of the DU has been opened to the public for the event - while the upstairs beyond the second floor are still off limits, a number of informational boards with quick and breezy rundowns of the DU's functions and how it supports Dreamers are set up around the atrium and on the second floor. Some are informational, some are educational, and a few have trivia quizzes on them that you can answer at the front desk to get a little token for some free food at the event.

The majority of the setup is outside, though - something between a pop-up market and a festival, with colourful sparkling banners and materials lining each stall. Some are small, independant businesses from around Yumemigaoka, some are larger organizations who sponsor the DU (they've gotta keep the lights on somehow!) and plenty of food and drink vendors. A few indie artists from the community are also selling merch and art catered to their fellow Dreamers, with imagery and in-jokes that wouldn't really mean anything to normal folks.

Some particular stalls to keep an eye out for include...


⧖ Dreamery Creamery are serving up scoops of their ice cream in all kinds of crazy flavours with a massive array of toppings and cones for you to choose from. To make things more exciting, Dreamers Sage, Soleil and Prisma are all helping out at the booth and serving ice creams themed after their Dreamer selves! How does Soleil Sorbet sound to you? Maybe Sherbert Sage? Or are you going for Prisma Pomegranate?

⧖ Dice and Dash have a shaded area set up for people to sit down, take a load off and chill out with some board games! They've got a selection of games to borrow, but so long as they're not too busy, you're free to take up a table with your own entertainment if you've got it.

⧖ Dream Weavers, famous for their position as the DU's go-to tailor, is strutting their stuff with recreations of some famous and well known Dreamers' outfits! As well as selling their goods, they're also hosting a little workshop where visitors can learn some quick and simple cosplay and sewing techniques to see how these outfits get made. Dreamers Luck, Gungir and Hanako will all be volunteering and... doing their very best at the cosplay workshop!

⧖ Hybrid Colours is selling portable wares like canvas bags, keychains and postcards of the various prints/paintings available at the gallery! Since they only just arrived at Yumemigaoka, all the locations are international or from other parts of Japan. (Aleena will do face painting or hand painted 'tattoos' for kids, teens, or the daring adult and has a small table set up with a catalogue or 'surprise me!' option for it)

⧖ The Yumemigaoka Cultural Museum has their usual setup! As well as a truncated version of their installation explaining the Dream Sphere and its history, they've set up several dioramas of places in the Dream Sphere, recreated in miniature! There's some moving elements like miniature Torments bobbing around here and there and some cute interactive gimmicks, like a button that will raise and lower the water level in the miniature Vale of Sorrow or a switch to make the volcano in mini Fury Peak go kaboom!

⧖ Finally, a soundstage has been set up just a little ways away from the rest of the stalls with plenty of sitting room for the audience. Dreamer Ai-Doll will be performing a small set of songs partway through the day and the rest of its time will be dedicated to hosting a Q&A panel of a rotating list of volunteers to answer questions about life as a Dreamer or day to day goings on at the DU. Please be aware that both Angelica AND Chloe will kill you if you post cringe on main so be on your best behaviour!

There's lots to do and plenty of time to do it in - the event runs from 10AM and starts wrapping at around 4:30PM so everyone's got time to head home for work the next day. Dreamers will be able to attend the afterparty in the Dream Sphere if they'd like to but for the most part, that's this year's event wrapped up!

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Comments

[rubykomachi]

Whaa--?! [Ruby startles when she hears someone behind her, but instantly relaxes when she sees who it is.] Oh, it's just Onii-chan. See, this is why people think you're creepy!

[In regards to the advice, Ruby hums in thought. Aqua does work behind the scenes, but...] Isn't this event pro-union though? I'm a Dreamer of the working class! And I gotta engage with my following, right?

[Bold words from a nepo-baby with 100 followers.]

[rubykomachi]

Oh! Well, it's gotta be a sundae with big ingredients! Hmmm...how's "Chaosbringer Banana Split" sound?

[Why wouldn't she be open to the suggestion?]

[rubykomachi]

--!! Hi, hi~!

[Ruby perks up hearing the sound of her mother's voice and grins brightly. She doesn't immediately go in for a hug since they're still in public, but she does get a bit closer.]

Yeah! That's how it is! Well, it's kind of a lot, but we've been pulling it off!

I could hear you on the sound stage! It sounded like it went great! "Sign wa B" sounded extra energized today...

[No two shows are the same, and over the years Ruby's picked up on little details that indicate Ai is particularly in the zone during a performance.]

[aquactor]

Don't blame me for your lack of spatial awareness.

[ Said as if he didn't very intentionally sneak up behind her... but hey, spacial awareness is important for idols, isn't it? She could always work more on that. ]

Bold words from someone with only 100 followers.

[ He says exactly that... and technically he himself is one of them, so 99 followers. Not that he'll ever mention that. ]

You've already posted about it plenty. Keep doing it and they'll pick up on your desperation. Besides, it's already the day of.

[ It's not like somebody's going to see one of her posts and decide in that instant to throw all their other plans to the wind and come attend if they weren't already. ]

[rubykomachi]

Senpai! Cool costume!

[Ruby adjusts her visor and grins.]

Well, I'm a little biased to the Soleil Sorbet since it's named after me. They made it strawberry-flavored since it's one of my colors.

You really can't go wrong though! I personally tasted all of them!

[darknesshotpot]

[Ango is currently losing the trivia contest, despite being a DU employee for the past year.]

Ha, I know that one! Ai loves bunnies!

[Or at least rabbits were her mascot animal during her B-Komachi days... but it seems like she's stuck with the rabbit motif in the years since, so she must like them, right?

Maki's next question earns little more than a confused grimace, though.]

Uh... I dunno, is that in the employee handbook? I swear I'm actually gonna read that one of these days.

[saynotobugs]

[The biggest sigh, Ango.]

It's not required, just highly encouraged for efficiency's sake. Unlike reading the employee handbook, which is required.

[saynotobugs]

[Maki snickers and shakes her head.]

We do have a couple. You sure you have enough coverage at your booth to go running off like that?

[saynotobugs]

Nah, I'm good. Wouldn't say no to the company, though. At least the weather's better out there, right? Some years, I wonder why we even do most of this outdoors.

exhibit

[saynotobugs]

[Maki's here bringing a supply refresh to the exhibit. She hands out some water bottles and looks over the pamphlets.]

You guys are putting a lot into this, huh? Hope the kids aren't too much.

[liedol]

[ Just as promised an hour or so after the event gets started, the soundstage lights up and there's Ai - or, well. There's Dreamer Ai-Doll, just as pink and sparkly over here in reality as she is in the Dream Sphere. ]

Oh wow, just look at all those penlights! Thanks so much for showing up, everyone! I've got a really good feeling about today's event, so be sure to check out everyone's stalls while you're here, okay? Oh, but not until you're done listening to me. [ Wink! ] Alright, let's get started!

[ The lights flicker enticingly and then - ]

I'm an invincible girl, whoa, who-aah ♪

[ Off she goes!

It's not a super long set - six songs, a mix of newer hits and old favourites and ending on Sign wa B... which is little cheeky since it's technically not one of her songs anymore but Strawberry Productions seem to have unofficially surrendered it to her regardless. She's not quite sure how she feels about that.

Not that you'd think she's thinking of anything but the crowd by the time she's done. She's wearing one of those sparkling smiles and she gives everyone another wink. ]

That's all for today...! Well, from me, anyway - thanks for dropping by! Phew, it's getting toasty, huh? Make sure you all stay cool and hydrated today, okay?

[ And with some waving and final goodbyes to the crowd, she hops off the stage and relinquishes it to the Q&A panel. She disappears into the DU for a little bit - presumably to wash up and hastily change - because when she emerges she's back to being just regular Ai, ready to run around and put out a million mini fires today.

If you're manning a booth, you might find her popping up from the side with a smile and radiating an aura of pure Let Me Help Out you can practically see. ]

How's everything going over here? Need an extra pair of hands for anything?

[ ... Or maybe you'll catch her doing her shift at the trivia booth inside the DU, enjoying a little break from the heat. ]

Well, of course bunnies are my favourite... but I think someone snuck that in as a joke. [ Wink! ] How about this one... "what's the location in the Dream Sphere best known for its high temperatures?"

[ ... Or maybe even at the Q&A panel when it's her turn to take a slot. She's all over the place today, huh? ]

... so I'd say the most important thing really is to keep an open mind and not get too locked into what you think your powers can do. If you dream big, you can dream anything! [ how did she sell that cheesy line so effortlessly... ] Hm, I've got time for one or two more questions I think, so... how about you?

[ It's not until late in the day that she seems to finally take a break. She ducks into the shade behind one of the booths she's just finished running an errand for and takes a seat with a huge, deflating sort of sigh. It's only then that she realizes she's got company and though her smile snaps back into place, it's clear she's tired. ]

Whoops, you caught me! [ She puts a playful finger to her lips. ] Don't let anyone know about my little hiding spot, okay? I'm just taking a breather.

[liedol]

Alright then. Don't mind me...!

[ She pulls over one of the spare chairs and settles at the booth by Maki's side. Technically, her shift at the booth isn't until later but she doesn't have anything else immediately needing her attention so Maki's side is as good a place as any for her to be for the time being. ]

We've definitely gotten lucky the last few years! Even when it's been chilly, it's not been pouring. But jeez, do you remember that time a couple years ago... I don't remember what year it was but we had that huge storm? And a bunch of the banners just went flying away and we didn't find them for weeks!

[i_peace]

Ah, Maki-san!

[Keiwa's arms are full of a small child, clearly a little too short to see the diorama properly and whom he's currently carrying so she could actually see the dioramas. He puts her down when he sees Maki approach, patting her on the head before making sure she doesn't run off into the crowds without her parents]

I used to volunteer at a food pantry near my house back in Tokyo, so I'm used to it. [he does a small fist pump before taking a water bottle from her] It's not too busy, but it's a steady flow of people. It's hard to find time to sit down. So thank you. You're a life saver!

[saynotobugs]

Don't remind me. There's a reason everyone keeps asking me for paperweights. [She laughs, though.] Or rocks, as the case may be.

[saynotobugs]

Heh, no problem. I know how busy these things get. Especially when the weather cooperates.

[greaterspeed]

[he pulls out his cellphone and gives it a small wiggle to emphasize]

If mom needs anything, she can just give me a call. Lead the way, ma'am!

[liedol]

Every single year, I'm like "okay, for sure, this time we've got more than enough paperweights, we'll manage"... and then we run out and half of the ones we do have go missing and it's right back to square one!

[ She laughs as well. ]

I'll take wind over rain, though. At least it looks like there's no chance of anybody getting soggy today.

[liedol]

It sure sounds like it. I've heard a lot of people talking about getting a few scoops and plenty walking around with a Soleil Sorbet cone. Not too shabby on the marketing front!

[ She'd been planning on not-so-subtly posting about which flavour she was getting online if it looked like Ruby was needing a boost but to her delight, it's not been necessary at all. Her feelings on Ruby following in her footsteps like this are still decidedly mixed but...

When she sees Ruby smiling like that on the back of her own hard work and well-earned results, how can Ai do anything but smile right back? ]

Heehee. Was I giving it my all? It feels like forever since I had the chance to do an open air performance so I guess I was a little more pumped up than usual. I'm just sorry you didn't get a chance to come down and watch properly.

[thezekeinator]

I thought I had, but government procurement regulations are eight kinds of hell.

[Zeke loves his job, except for everything about it.]

[thezekeinator]

Now that's the stuff!

[Ruby is the best.]

Here's my thought. Take a couple flavors, dump some toppings in, mix them up, and then put that on the banana!

[saynotobugs]

Sure, if you say so. C'mon, kid. We should have some more in the supply rooms, we basically brought them all out for this. The ones that aren't needed in the server rooms, anyway.

[saynotobugs]

Hopefully. Besides, the rain usually brings wind with it anyway, and then we have more problems. Glad things are going better this time around.

[saynotobugs]

Okay, next time, if you need with the forms, just ask. They're not that bad, I did fulfilment once.

[Where hasn't she worked, really.]

So what did you have in mind that's not... this? I'm gonna make a blanket veto on anything that catches fire or explodes, though.

[liedol]

That makes two of us. Or... you know, however many guests we end up getting today. It's been pretty busy!

[ They're enjoying a bit of peace and quiet now, at least. How long that's going to last when word gets out that Dreamer Ai-Doll is at the trivia desk is yet to be seen. ]

Have you had a chance to go check everything out yet? Or are you waiting til someone takes you off here?

[greaterspeed]

Wait, you need extra fans in your server rooms? [he'll be jogging behind Maki as they head to... Wherever it is they're going] Is that how that's supposed to work? Sounds kinda iffy to me...