Open ♔ Let’s Go! CelePara!

[priforprince]

Who: Hibiki Shikyoin priforprince, Hibiki’s ego, and you
What: Choose your own adventure with the Best Prince.
When: June 7, 2016
Where: Apollo’s temple; out and about in the Near Shore
Summary: Hibiki attempts to set the stage for her next big role.

[ I. Resting On Her Laurels ]

[ If you accept Hibiki’s invitation and head over to her temple, you’ll find it’s a giant white castle with purple turrets. Feel free to enjoy the meticulously-kept grounds outside, but steer clear of the goats. They have a tendency to follow people around.

Once inside and away from those…unpleasant side-effects, those interested in the exhibit Hibiki had advertised will find the route there is very well-signed. The signs happen to be hung on giant gold statues of Hibiki herself, but well, this is a self-introduction, after all…

It only gets worse in the exhibit itself, though. After one room of artifacts and informational placards about the god Apollo in mythology, the next room contains countless pieces of movie and stage memorabilia about Shikyoin Hibiki’s career as a movie star, actress, model, and something called a “PriPara idol”. A whole trophy case of awards is on display, as well as several fancy, glittery tickets with pictures of various outfits on them, newspaper clippings, movie posters, et al. Apparently it’s possible to be crowned “Mr. Handsome Universe World Prince of the Year.” Who knew?

And where is Hibiki herself? Who knows. She intends to surprise you if you won a prize.

But if you get lost in this temple - and it is huge - you may find that, in one of the back hallways, a woman with silver hair is leaning on the wall and holding a hand to her head. The temple itself was everything she’d ever dreamed of, but she had to do the exhibit herself.

And maintaining an illusion of this complexity is rather tiring for a god with so few followers. ]

[ II. Urban Gobi Desert ]

[ Right, that’s one thing off her to-do list: take care of the inconveniences anonymity brings. Now for the real problems: is this really not her universe, and if so, where is its closest PriPara entrance? All PriParas are connected, after all. Hibiki is not about to look a gift godhood in the mouth, but being brought her sans her butler Ando and various other accoutrements grates somewhat. She’ll pop back home for everything she needs, have Ando load it all up, and return to her temple.

Maybe she’ll bring her teammates, too. Her sitting room feels strangely empty. It’s bizarre.

So here Hibiki is, out and about on the streets of the Near Shore. She’s frowning at various street signs, wandering almost at random, when - it happens. She passes a fish stand called the “Cat’s Meow Big Catch”. The young lady working it has a pair of cat ears on her head, and paws the air with her fists. ]

”Fresh fish! Fresh fish for sale, nya!”

”We fillet your way, nya! Sales on scales - it’s a limited time offer, nya! Nyab it while you can, nya!”

Hrk!

[ Hibiki staggers. She bumps into the nearest storefront. Eyes wide, hands clasped over her ears, she looks around for the nearest means of escape - but this is a busy street. She has nowhere to run. ]

”Limited time only, nya!”

Huaaghh…

[ III. Visitor’s Choice ]

[ Want to come bug Hibiki for something other than the exhibit? Stop on by!

Just don’t expect her to be as welcoming as if you’d done this her way. ]

Comments

[smilingbullet]

[ He’ll make a better map where all the temples are located, and keep it updated, too.

There are a lot of great gods around, it’s not necessarily Apollo’s that’s the grandest. ]

I’m sure it will be, at least it’s worth trying, don’t you think?

[priforprince]

Please let me know if you have any questions.

[ As she sees you've already begun to sample the main attraction! ]

[smilingbullet]

I was wondering if you assembled this exhibition by yourself.

[ It is pretty impressive, just as it's pretty hilarious. ]

[priforprince]

[ Hibiki shrugs. Far from assemble - the whole thing is an illusion, actually. She is keeping it intact by willpower, attention to detail, and an excellent memory alone.

Not that she's bragging. To herself. ] It was nothing.

[ She totally thinks you're head-over-heels impressed. ]

[smilingbullet]

[ He can't tell the difference. Maybe he could if he knew or tried, but that's not how it is at the moment. ]

It'll take that as a yes. Seems you put in a lot of work.

[priforprince]

[ Hibiki scoffs. Work? Her? Hah! ] As a display of my talents and an instructional aid, it certainly serves.

[ are you feeling particularly instructed

or enlightened

about how awesome she is... ]

[smilingbullet]

[ Sorry Hibiki, he's just amused by all of this. ]

Yeah? So this is just a fraction, or something like it?

[priforprince]

You could say that.

[ She has no idea. She thinks he's into it. Why wouldn't he be? She is.

She gestures to the side of the exhibit that talks about her winning Mr. Handsome Universe World Prince of the Year. Because that is a thing you can be crowned. Absolutely. ] This side is particularly illuminating.

[smilingbullet]

[ So very Narcissist to think something like that. ]

Huh, is it? [ He glances over the text, skimming parts of it. ] I was unaware there was a Mr. Handsome Universe World Prince competition, is it like the Miss World competitions?

[priforprince]

[ Hibiki smirks. Is it anything - oh, you're quaint! ] Far more exclusive. There are no runners-up.

[ The text is mostly about Shikyoin Hibiki's career as an actor, movie star and model before "his" coronation for the award. And how filthy rich "his" family is. A noble among nobles! ] Only a victor, and the vague pretenders to the crown.

[ This may or may not be her personal life philosophy, as well. ]

[smilingbullet]

[ The "universe" is sort of hard to grasp. ]

Sounds a little unfair, when going so far. But at least that means that there is no last place in that case, right? Which is a good thing.

[priforprince]

[ ...one could also say the rest of said universe is in last place. If one were, say, Hibiki. Hypothetically.

She shrugs. ] You aren't particularly competitive, are you?

[ No rancor here. Just curiosity, and pleasantry. ]

[smilingbullet]

[ He shrugs, because he has yet to figure that part out. ]

I have absolutely no idea. Would being competitive help me perform my duties better?

[priforprince]

A drive to excel might.

[ Also, a sense of direction. ]

I take it you're a [ what was the word - ah, yes, she recalls it, she's brilliant like that, instant master of everything ] shinki.

[smilingbullet]

I suppose that might be true.

[ He nods an affirmative. ]

I am, yeah.

[priforprince]

You'll have to find some method of serving your god properly, then.

[ Since that's the primary duty, right? Serving? Hibiki has only had a shinki for like. A day. Said shinki seems to think her primary duty is "hugging".

It's suboptimal. ]

[smilingbullet]

I intend to do that. It's my duty to help him fight at least, right?

[ He can follow orders, it feels as if he's supposed to follow orders rather than giving them. ]

[priforprince]

Among other things.

[ Really, Hibiki sees no reason for a shinki not to do whatever their god asks them to. "Make me tea", perhaps. "Go buy ___." "Stop thinking this is a two-person chair."

It is a heavy head that wears the laurels of Apollo.

But anyway. That gives Hibiki an idea. She had promised presents, so... ] I'll prepare you a souvenir to take back to your god.

[smilingbullet]

I'll figure out what he wants me to do as I get to know him.

[ He still doesn't know Riku very well so his interests and what he wants might not be the same as what other people are interested in and wants. ]

That's nice of you. No scary gift, right~ [ Referring to their previous conversation. ]

[priforprince]

Absolutely not.

[ She reaches into her jacket. You get a bouquet of roses and a classical music CD she found around here, then autographed. Custom gift-giving is hard without a butler to tell to buy things. ] Here. Portable culture, for all occasions.

[ If you'd been any later she might have gotten you a compass. Assuming she could find one. ]

[smilingbullet]

[ Wouldn't a compass have been a fun gift to receive. ]

Portable culture is my favorite culture at the moment. [ He won't know what will be his favorite culture in the future. ] Is the music as lovely as the roses?

[priforprince]

It will transport you and your god to an elegant paradise.

[ Which is really all she wants out of entertainment. And her whole world is entertainment, so. Yeah. ]

Give them my best.

[smilingbullet]

Looking forward to it! And I'll do that.

[ He switches the roses over to the other hand. ]

Before that, how big is this exhibit? Have I checked out it all yet? I wouldn't want to miss anything.

[priforprince]

[ Hibiki smiles. ] Just this hall. The remainder of the temple is a treat to be savored later.

[ Can't go spoiling the audience, now. Gotta leave them wanting more.

Besides, it's a big hall... ]

[smilingbullet]

Oh, now you're just making me more curious about what's deeper within. God Apollo is a person that likes to tease others, I see.