yumemigaoka | ★ blind the masses with a grin, stir up the media

It's as good a reason as any. [ Or rather, any reason is a good enough reason – that's how she's always felt about it. ] A lot of people still come here feeling like because they Awakened, it means they have to fight... but doing it because you feel like you have to and doing it because you feel like you really have a reason to are pretty different.

[ She bumps her elbow against his in a playful sort of way. ]

But whatever works, so long as it works, right? Whatever makes you feel like you can fight you should just take it and run with it.

[ When you've been performing for as long as Ai has, it's easy to forget or otherwise lose sight of what you're actually doing it for. It's work, after all, and Ai's been doing it ever since she was Zeal's age even before it was for the DU.

When she sees enthusiasm like that, though – in Ruby's face, in the faces of all the younger fans she gets a chance to see, before their love turns into something muddy and adult – she remembers. She thinks ah, that's right. This is why.

Ai-Doll beams at her – then she puts a finger to her lips and leans in, voice dropping to a low and playfully conspiratorial whisper. ]

Well... it's a bit of a secret right now, but I might be doing something in June. Oh, but don't tell anybody until it's officially announced, okay?

[ It's Hanako, so it's probably both... ]

You don't have to butter me up now you've graduated, you know. [ She lifts her hands to fluff her own hair, sending glitter pwoofing in all directions. Which is really more dangerous than the Torments – thank god this stuff doesn't follow you back to the Waking World. ] But if you do want me to grade you on your performance, can still go ahead and do that.

[ She says it like it's a threat... but then her expression breaks into a warm smile, radiating pride. ]

You're doing really well. How does it feel to be standing on your own two feet?

I thought about some of that. It's only a scandal if we're trying to cover it up, right? If it comes to light, we admit openly that your skills are too valuable not to pass on, but we didn't want to cause any trouble for the trainees, so we had you assist mentoring in a different capacity.

[Zeke feels pretty confident that the most boring possible thing is admitting to exactly what you're doing. Acting like you have something to hide? That's bad. Defending and deflecting? Blood in the water. But fail to actually offer any juicy red meat for the press to get into is the surest way to get them distracted with some other scenario they can milk.]

Could even formally recommend it under the Division's whole "Necessities" purview, especially the mental health part.

[In some ways... Zeke and Ai are very different people. What with him proposing "not lying" and all.]

I wouldn't go as far as saying we're winging it... [ Which, to those of you playing along at home, should be taken to mean that they're Definitely Winging It. ] But I don't want us to get too focused on fighting today. You should think of this as a field trip!

[ As if in response to her words, the world around them and the train tracks under their feet seem to fluctuate for a second before stabilizing again. They're probably close to someone's dream, but it's not quite ready for them to pass into it just yet. ]

The City is good and safe, but sticking to a place that looks so much like the real world is no good when it comes to working out what you can really do over here. So we're exploring! I want us to find a good place to really explore and investigate, so we can see just what you can imagine up over on this side.

[ 'We' mostly meaning 'Rhodonite', obviously. But she's not gonna just say that. ]

[She props her head up on her hands.] Could always try and talk them into sponsoring some YouTubers for the bit. There's enough stuff about the whole Dreamer thing on there, and it's gotta be better than wine and audiobooks. Aside from that, all I can think of is ads. Get someone into a monster suit and do something memeable, it'll spread by itself if we're lucky.

So your support would be my letter of introduction.

[ Jeannette thinks she gets it! She brightens. ]

If that is what you offer, then I accept. Thank you so very much.

[ She offers Ai-Doll her hand to shake. It....feels like she's getting more out of this than the other Dreamer, though, and while her heart belongs to another, she does not wish to take advantage of anybody. ]

Of course, you may also count on me for Torment hunts!

[He sputters a little dramatically and pulls away as Ai sends a sparkly cloud towards his face, removing his hat to wave some of the shimmery dust out of view. Granted, the glitter that accumulated on his cap probably wasn't helping matters much either, but... it was a start, at least. He can't help but pout, though, albeit in a mock indignant way, and he playfully whines back:]

C'mooooon, I was being honest! Would I ever lie to you?

[... well, okay, maybe let's not answer that one right away!!

Although, in the most ironic of twists... Ai probably was the person he could be most honest with in this realm-- and maybe out of it, too. There was no real need to put on an act around her, to put on this playful façade, because truthfully? There wasn't really any point-- she knew him for as long as he could remember, and with that, all the painful and terrible things he had been through, too. But the fact that she still treated him like any other young Dreamer, despite it all, only made him respect her all the more. So when she gives him that proud smile, he can't help but let the mask of "Hanako" slip just a bit for that moment, letting the boy Amane peek through. His fingers worry around the edge of his hat, still in his hands, and he mulls over what to say-- how much he WANTS to say-- before he finally speaks, voice quiet:]

... it feels like a dream.

[He pauses for a moment, before laughing a bit self-consciously at the phrasing.]

Sorry, that was corny, huh? But... being able to do all of this, see all of this-- [And he gestures to the vast, pastel-hued sky, with it's perpetually hanging full moon in it's luminescent glory] all on my own now... it's pretty amazing.

[But just to make sure he wasn't being too vulnerable in the moment, he crosses his arms behind his back and kicks out his feet a little in the air.]

Though does it count as "standing" when I don't always touch the ground?

You know, I never really needed a reason to fight before. If some guy looked at me funny, that was more than enough. Dumb, huh?

[He smiles ruefully and looks away, a distant look in his eyes.]

It's too late to save the person I was supposed to save... but at least I can fight for something worthwhile for a change.

[Just as quickly, the pensive mood is gone, replaced by a grin.]

I've got zero combat-focused powers, but screw that, I've got two fists and one hell of a grudge! I oughta get out there and smash some Torments!

Sponsorships might not be bad... and I know there's a few retired Dreamers who do the whole YouTuber thing full-time now. They'd probably be into talking to us, right?

[ She's nodding to herself now... ]

You know, I really do think this could work out if we put our minds to it!

[Ai-Doll-senpai, no, please don't even suggest you're winging it, Rhodonite is going to cry. Still, that's a good point - they're not going hunting today, they're out exploring. So it's... probably okay not to have a plan?]

We'll have to see - I don't know if I have anything in me that isn't for fighting, if the vibes I'm getting are right. Then again, anything can be a non-combat power if you try hard enough, right? [Commanding attention would be great if she ever tried to put on a show on this side...]

Ah, and sorry, I didn't mean to knock your powers, either. [A glance at Hanako again.] Floating is cool! I just want to start with the basics and go from there. No point in being able to do cool stuff if I get smacked in the face anyway.

[ Fighting to save someone, huh?

Yeah. That's why Ai's here too.

She'd been so scared at first she hadn't even wanted to come back, not after how horrible her Awakening had been. But knowing that this other world existed and that it was full of things that could and would hurt Aqua and Ruby if they got the chance, that Ai had the chance to protect them so long as she was willing to try–

It really had been a no brainer. ]

Now that's an attitude I like to see! [ She says it with a laugh and playfully pumps her fists for him, like she's matching his punchy energy. ] There's lots of Dreamers whose magic isn't suited for direct fighting, but we all find ways to make it work.

[ She tilts her head. ]

What sort of magic do you have, then?

[ Ai-Doll takes her hand and gives it a firm, businesslike shake – but the smile on her face is all warmth. Getting favored with a smile like that at its full brightness really makes you understand how she managed to slip in and fill Odette's role so easily. ]

You're more than welcome. Really, this is a huge bonus for me too – the trainee I used to rely on most just graduated out from under me and he's out there on his own. I'm happy to see him go, but having someone I could trust to look out for my other trainees was a big weight off my shoulders. Since you're already so experienced, could I count on you to help with that too?

[ So she can get a good look at just how this girl manages other Dreamers. ]

As long as we go in with realistic expectations. We're gonna have to get corporate in on this, but I can send some emails up to advertising.

Don't worry too much, kiddo - Ai-Doll's got her shit together, so everything's gonna be fine. If we manage to do something cool, that's just icing on the cake.

[Ango is the youngest of his family and doesn't have any junior siblings, but if he did have a cute little sister, she might be something like Rhodonite... so if some Torment tries to smack her in the face, he'll smack it straight out of the Dream Sphere, lack of combat powers be damned.]

Seems like we're getting close, right?

[Ango squints into the mist around them, hoping that his power of sharpened vision works through sunglasses.]

I can kinda see flashes of... something out there.

Well, I guess I'm a ninja now, so I can do the usual anime ninja stuff. I can throw knives, and see in the dark, and... oh wait, you're gonna love this one.

[He makes a mystic-looking hand seal to activate his power and, with a puff of purple smoke... transforms into a mediocre copy of Ai herself. The hair isn't anywhere near the right color, and the dress looks like a cheap cosplay replica, and he's still wearing sunglasses, but it's a decent attempt. He strikes a suitably idol-esque pose.]

Tadaaa~ Still working on getting details right, but it might at least work for distracting the bad guys. And I'm pretty good at pretending to be a large rock.

[The only problem is that Ango's voice hasn't changed at all...]

Ohhh, really? [ Zeal leans in as well, a look of pleasant surprise showing on her face, her eyes lighting up. You can almost tell that she's doing her best not to shout for joy at the news-- that would risk unintentionally letting the secret slip as soon as she's heard it! She lifts a hand and draws her thumb and forefinger over her lips, the universal sign of zipping one's mouth shut. ]

Your secret is safe with me! I'm going to have to keep checking the official show schedule for an announcement. I'm going to be there for sure, so look for me!

[ The excitement of it being so near has her giddy, though it takes only a moment more to realize that that's probably also too soon to make enough money to buy a ticket. In her mind everyone else will be as excited as she is for such an event, so they're sure to sell out soon! Her eyes go unfocused for a moment, and she begins softly chanting numbers almost inaudibly under her breath, like some sort of math exercise. ]

...five six eight four two… Wait, no, it's nine five three eight now! Hehe, don't worry, I'll definitely get a ticket.

[ Were those… credit card numbers? Yes, yes they definitely were. When a girl doesn't have the money to get what she wants, what better way is there to proceed than to memorize your parents credit card information?

Don't worry, Ai, this isn't an uncommon occurrence for her, so you're not contributing too much to the delinquency of a minor. It might even be a compliment; she only resorts to this when something's important enough to her to be worth the punishment that naturally comes with it! ]

It is good to know I would!

[ oh, drat, that's a saying that goes around the French side of her family and doesn't make much sense to anybody else. Like all the best figures of speech, it's context- and tone-dependent; La Pucelle has heard d'Arcs use it to mean anything from "well, wouldn't you like to know" to "you betcha".

She, in this case, means the latter. ]

- er, yes. Gladly. Who are your other trainees?

[ "How many are there" might have been a good place to start, but if she is going to be bestowed a small Squadron then she must account for how each, individually, can do their best in battle. Dreamers' powers are all so customized, and she's not the sort of person who could ever just think of her army as a single unit, not a bunch of people with their own strengths, hopes, and dreams, who have entrusted her with the faith she'll make the right decisions. ]

[Hanako peeks around Decadence to beam over towards Rhodonite, a silent means of accepting her apology (though there was no offense taken, really!), as well as a means to reassure her.]

Yeah, what the old guy said! [Hanako, are you already trying to be a pain in the ass this early on the trip, oh my god--] You're in super good hands with Senpai, and! You got me to look after you guys, too! So there's absolutely nothing to worry about.

[A beat, and then:]

... well, except maybe running into some crazy high-level Nightmares or something, but the chances of that are reaaaaaal low. Probably.

[Please stop trolling the newbies, child.....

He perks up as Decadence claims to have spot something in the distance, though, shifting his cap back a little as he tries to get a better look for himself.]

Ooooh, good eyes! It probably won't be long now 'til we get in. [He kicks his feet a little excitedly as he hovers in the air, the thrill of exploring somewhere new and unknown thrumming within him.] I really hope it's someplace cool!

Edited 2023-06-09 02:21 (UTC)

Hohhh... you know, that's not a bad idea at all.

[ It is a little funny to be in a situation where Ai is the one dithering about telling a lie and Zeke is the one suggesting a way to artfully sidestep the exact truth.

Maybe she trained him a little too well. ]

How would we make sure everyone else at the DU knows who they really answer to? Word of mouth?

[ Ai-Doll just grins and puts a conspiratorial finger to her lips. ]

Sorry, but that's a secret for now. I have to be careful about letting that information out – it can get a bit of a spotlight put on them if the wrong sorts of ears are listening when I talk about it.

[ And then she went and offered the spot to La Pucelle like it was nothing... well, it's not an offer she would've made if she didn't think this girl was up to handling it. ]

But once you're all signed up, I'll introduce you all to each other. How does that sound?

Oh–!

[ She rocks back a little on those fancy shoes in surprise but of course she doesn't overbalance. It takes a moment for it to really click what she's seeing – but then she bursts into delighted laughter and gives him a round of very impressed applause. ]

You're kidding me! It's just like looking in a mirror! [ it's so totally not like looking in a mirror, but she's got to give him his props. there's a joke to be made here about twins, too – but he's not exactly the audience for that one. ] How long can you keep it up for?

[ . . .

Maybe this wouldn't come up as quite as much of a red flag to anybody else – they're just numbers after all – but beyond any well-honed and finely tuned instinct she might have as Dreamer Ai-Doll or Ai the idol, Hoshino Ai is a mother to two smart, trouble making twins and she immediately recognizes the vague, looming shape of Future Trouble even if she can't pick out all the details yet. Out of solidarity with this girl's surely affectionate but long suffering parents, she immediately goes into damage control mode. ]

Actually, you won't need a ticket at all! Or, well, at least not to come see me. It'll be a live show in the park and you'll only need a couple hundred yen to get in and look around. You can borrow that much from your parents, right?

[ YOU KNOW. WITH PERMISSION. ]

[ CRISIS AVERTED. ]

Ohhhh, wow, that's even better! I can totally afford something like that with my allowance. [ The response starts cheerful as usual, only to cause sudden consternation. ] Unless… I do something to get my allowance taken away! Hmm… I guess I'd better be on my best behavior. [ This is said with a tone of resignation. From the way she says it, it seems unlikely Sachiko would ever get anything other than coal from Santa, if her parents followed such traditions.

Seriously though, Ai, Sachiko's parents owe you a solid, even if you don't know it yet. ]

An event in the park sounds like a lot of fun, too! I bet it'll be packed so long as the rain goes away. I think it's supposed to be until-- wait. Hold on! No way!

[ Dreamer Zeal's thought process comes to a crashing halt as she remembers the two week forecast projection she'd seen recently when her parents had the news on. Literally vibrating with excitement all of a sudden she hops forward even closer to Ai-Doll so she can whisper in a highly conspiratorial manner. ]

You're having an unexpected event at the park in June. Does that mean it'll be... on the 10th or 11th!?

[ It's honestly amazing how much emotion one girl can squeak into a whisper. ]

[ Bright and warm – that's the sort of smile Ai favours him with, a warm and sunny spot instead of her usual scorching spotlight. Looks like, for all his attempts to escape this sincere moment she's gone and gotten him stuck in!! ]

You've made some really good progress. And so fast, too! As proud as I am, it almost makes me a little sad to see you taking flight all on your own so soon.

[ Before he can protest, Ai reaches out and gently pats his head, just the way she does with Ruby and Aqua – or well, Ruby and the vanishingly few occasions Aqua will let her get away with it. ]

But I am proud. You've worked really hard and you earned this. But just remember you can still come back to me for help or anything else you need, any time you need it. Even if I'm not your Mentor anymore, I'll always be your senpai.

★ blind the masses with a grin, stir up the media

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