Open-ish ♔ Un, deux, trois

[priforprince]

Who: Hibiki & YOU! (prompts for Maria, Elfnein, Kuroyukihime, Lavi, & Chinatsu)
When: August 29 - September 1
Where: Far Shore Library, Apollo's temple, the Near Shore
What: Missions, prayers, and the sun's short fuse getting even shorter.

[ I. Library - Open, followers/exp for Maria, Elfnein, Kuroyukihime, & Lavi ]



[ Didn't this place used to have more staff?

Ah, well. Hibiki is sequestered at a table, attempting to read the largest, most ornate book on Pr--ugh, Greek mythology she could find. Other books are open on the table to various pages, most of which show things like people staring up at the sun in awe, satyrs gamboling merrily, and a woman being turned into a tree.

Hibiki may not be Narcissus, but she sure is reading up on herself. And a stack of the books are, inch by inch, moving as if of their accord towards the edge of the the table....

If they tip over, and they will soon, there's going to be a tremendous crash.

Alternatively, you could check out the other side of the table. There, Hibiki has her laptop open to pricing...the Japanese stock market, it seems...and has a bunch of thick books of business history. One of them has a purple bookmark with a gold tassel in it, which opens to a chapter about Sendai. ]

[ II. Apollo's temple - Open ]



[ There is a barricade in the hallway.

You walk into Apollo's temple, head down the path that takes you to living quarters and not to the amusement park (though you're welcome to use that, too - the noise of the rides being open might attract an audience), and you will find your path blocked by a whole bunch of tables, ottomans, chairs, and loveseats turned on their side and stacked up atop each other.

On the other side of the barricade, someone is coughing. They do not sound happy.

And the air is full of jangly wind chime noises. ]

[ III. The Near Shore - Open ]



No. This car. Credit, check, or cash is no object.

[ Hibiki is arguing with a station assistant in the subway, pointing at a train that's now boarding. ]

I'm willing to sell it back afterwards, so direct me to the authorities! Doesn't this organization pride itself upon service?!

[ She's missed a piece of paper that's fallen out of her pocket. She won't notice if you pick it up to read it.

It says:

"Dear box office god-sama,

Thank you for the lozenges before my audition. They were my favorite flavor!

Thanks to those, my throat relaxed, and I managed to pass!!! Now I have one last round, but it's in the big city, and I'm scared of being alone on the train. Please, please watch over me." ]

[ IV. The Near Shore - Closed to Chinatsu ]



Are you ready?

[ Hibiki has been waiting, in a tuxedo, for Chinatsu to open the door after being given a prom dress to wear for this outing. Whatever kind of dress Chinatsu has always dreamed of wearing, even if she doesn't realize it, even if she's forgotten - that's what was in the box Hibiki brought for her.

Genius comes in many forms. Mostly useless, aesthetic ones. ]

Comments

I

[alchemists]

[ This is the first time Elfnein has seen Hibiki so interested in books and research. Though that pile of books about to fall is a different matter, books need to be put away if you're not using them. ]

Do you need help with putting those away?

[priforprince]

Hm?

[ Oh, those? How did they get over there...

Well, that's not her concern, at present. Hibiki looks back down at her current choice of reading material. ] If you'd like.

[ The stack is scooting towards the edge more quickly now. ]

[alchemists]

[ Just as Elfnein is about to grab a book off the pile there's a gust of wind and down everything goes. ]

[ There's a small hand sticking out of the fallen tower, poor Elfnein is under all those books. ]

Can someone help me up?

[priforprince]

[ TEACUP GHOST IS THRILLED

there may be faint laughter in Elfnein's ears

Said laughter is definitely not coming from Hibiki, who has been frowning down at this ever since the books made such a commotion. ]

Honestly....

[ She is quite tempted to keep reading her book. But, if she does, Elfnein will likely continue calling for aid. And that will be annoying.

Thus! The Prince standeth!!

Please feel free to imagine an appropriate trumpet fanfare. ]

You're in CelePara Talent Agency now. Have a little self-awareness.

[alchemists]

[ This is why Elfnein wanted to get rid of the one last ghost but no, you just let it stay. ]

I'm sorry about that.

[ It's true that she's in a talent agency now so if people saw this then horrible rumors might spread. ]

[priforprince]

[ SHE HAS BEEN TRYING

IT KEEPS COMING BACK

anyway

Here is her hand. You may take it, and help yourself up. Because this too cannot be helped. Therefore: ] I'll overlook it this once, as a special allowance.

[alchemists]

[ Elfnein took Hibiki's hand and got up and starts brushing dust off her clothes. She'll have to make sure to do something in return later. ]

Thank you for helping me up, that was really nice of you!

[priforprince]

I simply don't wish any protégé of mine to disgrace herself.

[ Hibiki should film at the North Pole. She's already Prince of the tsundra.

Also, you're welcome. ]

[alchemists]

When did I become your protégé?

[ Is this how being an idol works...]

[priforprince]

[ Yes. Yes, it is. Hibiki just sort of looks at Elfnein and blinks. This is obvious, yes? She needn't answer it.

Then, onto business. ]

Are you here to research the performing arts?

[alchemists]

That's one of the things on the list, there's also fashion and things of that nature.

[ Since well, all of her new clothes were given to her by S.O.N.G and how does one pick out clothes anyway. Capes and underwear count right? ]

[priforprince]

How studious.

[ Her impressions are confirmed. It seems Natsuru isn't the only person who'd appreciate having a library of their own in their practice room at Apollo's temple.

Hibiki was already planning on providing a workshop, so a few shelves won't be an issue. ]

You're starting as a tabula rasa, then.

[ It does not occur to Hibiki that being kind of excited by that prospect is a thing most people would feel bad about. ]

[alchemists]

I have an idea of what idols are from watching Maria but I've noticed it's not just one style.

[ Hibiki is completely different from Maria and Tsubasa, and the clothing style and overall presentation show. ]]

[priforprince]

Indeed not. Every idol has their own brilliance. It's by polishing themselves further that they shine.

[ This is the one thing she has learned: dying everybody in her color...didn't work. If she did, who would provide her opening act? ]

I've been instructing Natsuru. If you prefer group study, you may join our lessons.

[ But you're also....good at research. And Hibiki is here to research something.

HMMMMMM. ]

[alchemists]

Is it really ok for me to join when I don't know the basics?

[priforprince]

If it's you, you'll learn quickly.

[ Otherwise she wouldn't have scouted you. She believes that brain can be used for noble ends.

Like performing. ]

[alchemists]

I'll give it my best shot.

[ Even though physical things are far different from mental.]

[priforprince]

[ Eh, it's all much the same, to Hibiki.

...Though. Come to think of it. ]

...Ah, yes. Did you have a moment?

[alchemists]

What do you need help with?

[ Elfnein can figure that Hibiki needs help or wants something since it's rare for her to ask nicely. ]

[priforprince]

[ She's eager to help! Smart people are a rare pleasure. ]

Apollo has a number of festival days. I'd like a list compiled of their important elements.

[ To cherry-pick (laurel-pick?) from or else ignore. The important part is that she is a god, and gods have festivals in their names, and she would much rather throw her own festival than have one thrown.

So that's the plan. ]

[alchemists]

I can do that, there are a number of books on Apollo at my temple that I can use.

[priforprince]

Bring the results to your lesson.

[ Which both guarantees she'll get her list and that Elfnein will arrive for her illumination. The world has never known such genius.

But, just in case, she'll add an extra guarantee with the most important impetus of all: ]

I'm expecting great things.

[ Shikyoin Hibiki's personal good favor! ]