Open ♔ I will change even the world!

[priforprince]

Who: Hibiki, CelePara Talent Agency, & the whole Far Shore
When: March 27
Where: Temple Apollo, Far Shore Central District
What: Hibiki's movie screening/draw-her-homeworld-to-herself gambit. The day of revolution has dawned.

[ Act I. Prilude ]

Today is the day.

[ Hibiki's done that thing again, that thing where she forgets to lock her temple door and then monologues to herself in her office. What an inconvenient and ham-handed thing this thing is! Why, anyone who stopped by early for any reason might overhear! ]

I'll be coming to pick you up soon. Ando....Princess Falulu.

[ Hibiki is standing next to her model of Apollo's Temple, and she's talking to miniature dolls. Most of the dolls she has sorted in boxes around her are of people from the Far Shore, but the three she's addressing have never been seen here: a man in a goat suit (no, wait, that would be silly, it's a goat on two legs, that makes way more sense!), a fancy girl with long curls, and a barefoot girl with a pure smile. ]

Fuwari.

[ The longing in Hibiki's voice is so potent you could rend ayakashi with it. ]

[ Act II. Movie Screening ]

[ The seats to which usher spygoats lead everyone upon their arrival to Apollo's temple are exactly as described on the tickets Hibiki sent to old and new gods alike (what do you know, Zetta - she actually managed that...incredible....seat you were assigned). Spygoats in little concession hats roll about before the screening, offering gourmet flavored popcorn and sparkling water to any takers. Even the popcorn boxes are etched with gold filigree, and may be taken home as a memento.

One thing all seats have in common, however, is that they can see the stage. And what a stage it is.

At the appointed time, the lights dim, and Hibiki's voice can be heard echoing all around. ]

Worshippers of Apollo, bienvenue. This puniverse's eons-long drought of true entertainment ends tonight. Bathe your hearts in the oasis of extravagance and slake your thirst in the crystal springs of genius!

Tonight, I'm serving it exclusively for you. Enjoy the taste.

[ A movie screen unrolls across the stage. The same bleating goat logo for MPriM Productions as was featured in the trailer bleats its bleat across the now-darkened theater.

And the movie begins.

As anyone involved in the production can attest, it's a historical musical about a samurai who was unfairly stripped of his title by a jealous rival. The samurai is left fending for himself against the ninja assassins his rival sends against him, and is torn about turning to a life of crime to support his little sister and her sick friend. The plot only thickens when it's discovered that one of the assassins sent to take the samurai's life is actually his former lover, believed dead - but she's been brainwashed to forget him!

Will the samurai stain his hands in sin for the sake of those he loves? Will there ever be an explanation for how someone can supposedly have the world against him when every woman he meets falls violently in love with him, often singing about it? Or why a samurai movie features saloon scenes? Can the samurai rescue his beloved from the true villain, a retainer of his rival's who's been manipulating everything from behind the scenes in hopes of siezing power himself?

Yes, Archer's role ended up being the secret bad guy of the piece. What a strange happenstance.

Because our hero is noble and handsome and played by Shikyoin Hibiki, he can achieve all his aims and more! While he does steal to support those he loves, it's only ever from wicked people, and in the final battle, he not only defeats the true villain but is rewarded with a restoration of his title by the shogun. (Whose sisters are all also in love with the samurai, but that is neither here nor there.) His lover also recovers her memory of him when he saves her from the True Bad Guy, nearly losing his life in the process, and his would-be sacrifice leads her to rediscover her passion for him.

Everyone is happy who should be happy. The samurai's little sister's sick friend recovers. Even the farm animals seem happy. A cow who has been in nearly every scene, even scenes where a cow has no business appearing, seems happiest of all.

The film ends with a rousing musical number about how wonderful the samurai is, and with the samurai saying that even more amazing places await them, and as the camera pans up to the dawning of a bright and wonderful new day, music begins to swell throughout the theater again. The screen fades, but four girls rise on Ionic columns from beneath the stage, their backs to the audience. Acquaintances may recognize them as Natsuru, Wendy, Elfnein, and Tsubasa.

And everyone had better recognize who's rising up in the center of the stage now. Her back is also to the audience, and. And.

Oh. Oh, Hibiki.

No. ]

[ Act III. Revolution ]

Now! The first act of revolution has concluded!

[ Hibiki lifts her mic towards the ceiling. A faint glimmer of light can be seen there. ]

Our radiance calls our quarry to us. Resound, across primensions! Captivate PriPara and draw it towards us!

[ The columns lower the four girls back onto the stage. Hibiki's column just plain vanishes. She drops, twirling around as she does, so she lands in a flurry of purple sparkles on one knee with her mic out, then stands. Music strikes up, all around. ]



[ The "Special Performance After The Show" begins! It's a live musical number, though resplendent with immersive illusions that take the audience, one by one, to different vistas through which Elfnein, Wendy, Tsubasa, and Natsuru sing and dance with Hibiki. They keep dancing together even once they return to the original set, with Hibiki eschewing the big finish at first in favor of going on to a sultry jazz solo, gesturing to each of her members in turn but mostly showering herself in her own splendor. This is her moment. This is her revolution. And she will sing the full version.

At last, however: ]

[ Everyone sprouts wings. Hibiki's fellow singers all have gold wings, but Hibiki's - Hibiki's are special. ]



Ah ha ha! Ah ha ha ha!

[ The light up above grows as CelePara Talent Agency zips through the air. Hibiki twirls higher, higher, ever higher. The others take each other's hands, but Hibiki soars higher still, and instead of a bell appearing, there's just light, that light, and within it -

Is there something within the light - ?! ]

This is my revolution! My divinity! I drop the curtain on this forsaken stage!




[ The music reaches its climax. Hibiki stretches out a hand - ]

What a

[ It's getting closer, everything is bathed in light - ]

Wonder

[ Hibiki takes a deep breath. Hibiki smiles, a smile full of unrestrained, unrefined glee - ]

PriPara World--!!

[ Drums crash. Cymbals ring. And just as the music ends, Hibiki's fingers -






hit a wall. ]

[ Act IV. -- ]

[ The lights go off.

The music has ended. The set has vanished. The members of CelePara Talent Agency appear back onstage again, all illusions dissipated. Nothing's left but a darkened concert hall, the audience, and Hibiki, frozen in place with her fingertips lightly pressed against the topmost part of the hall's ceiling. ]

Wh....at?

[ She blinks, like she can't believe what she's feeling. She stares at the ceiling in front of her, at the darkness and the solid pressure against her hand. For a long moment, she remains there, suspended in time and space. Everything is silent.

Then, slowly, staggeringly, Hibiki tips backwards and floats back to the stage. Her wings and legs give out in tandem, and she collapses to her knees about a foot above the floor. The hand that'd hit the ceiling falls, useless, to her side. ]

PriPara.....didn't come?

[ The spygoats begin gathering in the doors of the hall. This...is not what they were supposed to record. This is bad, right? They should. Do something. Something for Maa-ster. ]

Everything was...illusion.

[ Hibiki's eyes are open, but it sure doesn't look like she can see the concert hall around her - or any of the people here for her show. She's the only one privy to whatever drama she's looking at right now. ]

PriPara.....

[ Her lips tremble. Her head bows. She's sweating. And her voice is quiet

so quiet. ]



......isn't coming?

[ Spygoats burst through the doorways, pouring in en masse to begin attempting to push, cajole, and otherwise encourage everyone to leave in a cute, polite, but firm manner. Right, okay! Maa-ke your way to the exits, please. Flock this way! In case you haven't herd, the presentation has concluded. Maa-ny thanks for your attendance today....

Anyone who's determined enough to get through to where Hibiki's kneeling will be able to. But if you were just here to spectate, the goats will see you out now. There is nothing more to witness today.

Not when Maa-ster is kneeling there, so small.

Not when Maa-ster looks so alone. ]

---

[[ ooc: Characters are welcome to use this post as a mingle to heckle/comment on any parts of the show amongst each other, in addition to tagging in with prompts meant for Hibiki or other members of CelePara Talent Agency. Hibiki will not be coming out of the concert hall to speak to anyone who the goats manage to expel, however.

And a warning to anyone who stays: she might....explode. ]]

Comments

[unlucky7]

II
[Ginia turns down the offers of sparkling water - she's had enough to know it's not to her liking - but hell yeah, free gourmet popcorn. Caramel, four cheese, basil parmesan, a popcorn feast for all, a snack for a great event. It's Hibiki's big movie debut! Everyone's work coming together! A fun event for all! Ginia tries to remind herself that, but her expression is a bit contemplative as she wanders around the space, devouring box after box of popcorn.]

[The movie itself... well, it's something. As a royal bodyguard, she shows up in enough scenes, looking good and intimidating. Her signed scenes are subtitled in purple font, but she's mostly there for appearances.

So when her mandatory monologue pining over Hibiki happens, Ginia sinks a little into her seat. It's moving! It's sincere in its heartbreak and hurt at unrequited love! Method acting, some might say. Ginia furiously eats her way through because it sure brings up some bad memories.

As for her big scene in the sudden barfight in the saloon? That's a little more encouraging and fun to watch. Hibiki cast her as a swordsman, but throwing people around in a barfight? That's definitely her forte.

...Didn't notice the cow in the scene though. Huh.]

IV
[And then it all goes wrong. The movie was a spectacle, the following performance grand as always, but as Hibiki rises and rises, making her grand declaration, there's a tug of dread.

PriPara, PriPara, the constant echo of Hibiki's words ring in Ginia's ears. The arrival of paradise, that grand day. What did she think would happen? What did she want to happen?

Oh no.

Ginia pushes against the spygoats, leaping over them as she rushes to the stage. It seems wrong seeing Hibiki kneeling there, looking so defeated, so small, so... young. She shoves through the last ring of goats to get to Hibiki's side, kneeling down and setting a hand on her friend's shoulder.

...Yeah, all things considered, Hibiki really is a friend. One of the first she made, for that matter. Strange, that.]

IV

[priforprince]

Don't touch me!

[ The words come out instinctively. Hibiki flinches away from the touch, startled by it but also looking a little confused, like she's not sure where Ginia came from.

Still, being surprised by something else helps the gears of her mind start turning again. She's able to look at what happened, turn it over in her head... ]

PriPara didn't respond to me....? Inconceivable. I won't permit it....!

[ ....Get stuck. But also, faintly, on the edges, begin to get angry again. ]

[unlucky7]

[Ginia's hand jerks back. The goats bleat quietly, surrounding the two of them and shielding them from everyone. A few butt Ginia's back and shoulder, encouraging her to leave so they can tend to Maa-ster, but they don't try to chase her off.

She pulls out her phone and types up a message.]

Hibiki, what did you expect to happen?

[priforprince]

[ Fortunately, Ginia's question is in line with the mental gymnastics Hibiki's working her way through now. She voices them, looking for imperfections - and there are none.

Baffling. ]

Radiance attracts radiance. The source of ultimate entertainment, PriPara, should have been drawn to the ultimate performance god's ultimate stage.

[ This puniverse sent her Tsubasa and everything. It even sent her Mirei, and what is one to make of her appearance here if not an indication that the boundary between the two systems was weakening?! ]

Everything I've done has been to that end, and yet....!!

[unlucky7]

[If it were so easy to merge worlds together, someone would have done so already. Ginia realizes perhaps she's misunderstood what PriPara is. She thought it was... well, the games show PriPara as a world of wonder and joy, of entertainment and any girl can be an idol.]

What is PriPara to you?

[priforprince]

No one loves PriPara more than I. It MUST respond to me!!

[ Yeah, now we're getting angry. Still irrational, but it's at least a look her face has worn before. ]

T-to be trapped in such a scrap-heap puniverse.......to be bereft.........

[ "bereft", uh

isn't usually a word people use to describe places, huh

also hibiki is starting to look like the volcano did right before sotero did his sotero thing ]

[unlucky7]

['Bereft' isn't usually a word used to describe places, no. Ginia's brows raise a little at her growing anger and choice of words, but it still doesn't answer her question.]

I don't doubt that, but it doesn't answer my question. Why does this place mean so much to you?

[priforprince]

I WILL NOT BE DEPRIVED OF MY IDEAL!!

[ Hibiki pounds the stage with a fist. Because that's what PriPara is, to her, isn't it? It's a place where all the best things gather. And only the best things, ultimately. Some of them may not be her style, it's true - but even those, under the proper circumstances, can exhibit a multicolored and bewitching brilliance.....

She won't stand for it. She can't stand it. ]

"A world without PriPara"? A world where this world is all there is?!

[ A world where....where she can't see....Where she can't be with....



a world that makes a liar

out of the person who'd promised she wouldn't let hibiki be alone



Hibiki grabs at the laurel crown that's always in her hair, but it's not real, is it, it's an illusion, it's an illusion she's always projecting. Frustrated, she punches the stage again - she can't even rip the blasted thing off for effect - ]

Such a world is unacceptable!!

[unlucky7]

[It's the most angry Ginia's seen Hibiki, but it's also the most real Hibiki's anger has ever been, maybe the most real she's been. Ginia tries to read between the lines as Hibiki rages. She's a shinki, with no attachment to a forgotten world and (mostly) forgotten people, but for a god...

Gods know who they're leaving behind. What they're leaving behind.

Ginia stares a few extra seconds at the writing on her phone before she presses play.]

Hibiki, are you homesick? Do you miss your friends and family?

[priforprince]

YOU'RE WRONG!!!!

[ And yet, Hibiki flinches away. She's up on one knee now, as if ready to take off - if she had anywhere to go. Ginia - Ginia said it -

when Hibiki herself has been trying not to think about it, not consciously, lest the loss overwhelm her -

HOW DARE SHE -

When cornered, Hibiki only knows how to do two things. Lock people out, and lie. ]

As if I'd indulge in such sentiments!! Everything in PriPara is required for my Paradise to be complete - THAT'S ALL!!

[unlucky7]

[It's a very telling response. Ginia remains where she is, giving Hibiki space. What is a paradise without the people you care about and the places the matter? There are fragments of people Ginia can miss, but there's nothing concrete to long for, cut off from the living. It'll always be different for Hibiki.]

Everything in PriPara can include people. I don't think anyone would blame you for missing people. Gods know what they've left behind.

I think what you've done here is amazing. I really enjoyed the movie and being a part of it, I like your shows, and I like you. I imagine a lot of people like you and what you do.

If there were people from home you wanted to see because you miss them and you want them to see what you've accomplished, that's understandable too.

[priforprince]

"What I've done here", you say?

[ It hurts. It hurts so much. Fuwari. Falulu. Ando.....

She'd been trying not to think about them, and now she can't think about anything but. She'd been afraid of this! This was why. This was why all her eggs had been put in one basket, because she wouldn't let Fuwari become a liar, she wouldn't let herself be paralyzed by the knowledge that the only people who could possibly ever save her were out of reach, that she might be stuck in a world full of crappy so-called entertainment and idiots and blowhard gods who don't deserve the name and bubblegum-blowing sentence-ender-using dogs and endless rowdy parties and volcanoes that erupt while she's in the middle of something important and

and

and

"Hibiki-san!"

"Mahou-chan!"

"Hibiki-sama!" ]

What point is there in being anywhere that lacks [ the people who heal her ] PriPara?

[unlucky7]

What point is there in being anywhere?

[In one way or another, everyone has a role to play, a life to lead. Here, their lives are sorted into shinki or gods, but even then it isn't as simple as that. They live, they want, they need, they hurt, they heal, they grow, and maybe somewhere in all of that, there's a point. It changes from person to person, and sometimes as lives overlap, conflict arises as differing needs clash.

Sometimes people get along too.

What is the point of being here? It's more than serving their roles, isn't it?]

No one asked to be here. We're all making the best of it. I'm sorry you couldn't bring PriPara here. I don't think it's how the world works. I'm sorry your friends aren't here either.

But don't you think you've made new friends here? Brought entertainment and joy to people? Doesn't that matter?

behold: genius.

[priforprince]

Impossible! I...

[ ....still can't possibly trust people enough to have made new....

......

........................

Hibiki realizes her mouth is hanging open and shuts it, deep in thought. She's....she's made new friends...? Here?

She, just as she is, on her own? Without prompting from her saviors, without her life being on the line, without anyone asking for anything in return...There are people here....worth being around... at whose side she's been at ease, and when she's put them through her absolute worst, instead of leaving, they....

Hibiki stares at Ginia as if only just seeing her for the first time today (her mouth is open again). Come to think of it....Ginia's stood here, hasn't she? Ginia has stood here and waited. And listened. And responded.

Could it

possibly be??????? ]

[unlucky7]

[Why is Hibiki staring agape. What did she say wrong this time? Ginia looks at what she wrote and tries to figure out which part is wrong. The only part that's possibly wrong is how the world works, but the understanding needed there is far beyond her comprehension.

Unless... Now it's Ginia's turn to look at Hibiki and stare a little.

Does Hibiki not have friends? That's impossible. At the very least there's her, but others have to like Hibiki too. Even taking into account self-serving reasons, not so many would have shown up to help with the movie if if they completely disliked her.

Then does Hibiki think she doesn't have any?

Huh. Somehow Ginia never thought Hibiki was the kind to doubt that. Then again, when did she ever give any indication she liked Hibiki? ]

I mean it when I said I like you and had fun with the movie, even if I was in a real bad mood during filming. Since we met on my first day, I've always had fun around you. I like being around you. You got me into rhythm games.

Yes, Hibiki, I consider you a friend.

[priforprince]

I've made....?

[ A spygoat helpfully shows up at this juncture, carrying a small pile of dolls on its tray. When it heard friend talk, it figured Maa-ster might want to see everything in the FRIEND box. Attempting to anticipate this sort of request is the difference between a maaa-diocre servant and a maa-sterful one, and it intends to impress.

Hibiki looks down at the small depictions of Lavi and Chinatsu, as well as Romeo's Friend Ticket (which had gotten shoved under the box when she didn't know what else to do with it). She's...That's right. That all...did happen, didn't it?

Lavi. Chinatsu. Ginia.

Hibiki isn't staring at the Ginia of the present so much anymore as watching a woman who moves like a predator sometimes lose herself in the delights of her very first taste of PriPara (song choice notwithstanding), agree to come to a film shoot despite some sort of domestic trouble, accept a Christmas present from a dashing (anonymous) Phantom Thief, arrange the rabbits within a crane machine just so simply because Hibiki had shown up to tell her to.

That's right. Being with Ginia sets Hibiki at ease. She complies when Hibiki has an idea, and Hibiki never thinks twice about seeking her out, because she knows she can rely on Ginia. Ginia......Ginia could have left today, but instead, she came straight to Hibiki's side.

Ginia still is at Hibiki's side.

OH.

There's a still lot of unhelpful staring going on here, but you can practically watch the sun rising on the sun god's face, right now. ]

[unlucky7]

[Friendship is a strange thing Ginia's still trying to figure out and come to terms with. There are plenty of people she cares about and enjoys spending time with. Allies, because it's a safer, neutral term to use when her understanding of interpersonal relationships is so thin.

It's also a lie like so many others she tells herself or tries to believe because it's safer that way.

It's easy to say Hibiki is self-serving and she often is in the pursuit of greatness, but Hibiki also does a lot she doesn't have to do. She didn't have to tolerate the shinki showing off her horse and treat her to cake. She didn't have to get her a Christmas present and birthday present (even if the presents were themed after Hibiki, it was still a kind gesture).

So what is friendship if not sometimes being selfish but also seeking out company?

Ginia glances at the spygoat as it rolls over with a box. That's... is that a doll of Chinatsu inside? And Lavi?

She looks back at Hibiki. The staring continues, but at least Hibiki looks less... distressed.]

Looks like you have more than just me. What about all the people that perform with you too? I doubt they'd perform if they didn't like you.

[priforprince]

But...

[ This is really difficult to think about. It's inconceivable! Hibiki is someone who, despite knowing she'd been incorrect in assuming the whole world was a lie, doesn't trust easily. And her standards are high. She can't have found so many people deserving of a term like that!

Because then, wouldn't a place like that - Wouldn't a place with people like that -

be, itself, a Paradise...? ]

In that case, what I attracted......

[ Wendy, Natsuru, Elfnein, Tsubasa. Kuroyukihime, whose departure left Hibiki out of sorts for a whole half day. Venus, whose death left a hole where the constant sensations of LOVE had been.

Could there be even more? ]

....wasn't PriPara, but....

[ Fuwari, Falulu, and Ando smile, backing away. "As expected of Hibiki-kun," says a girl who follows them, flipping her long dark hair. "Are you coming or not?" asks a smug girl flanked by vultures.

A Princess sings a healing song to a small, sad, scared silver-haired girl. A ragged boy holds the girl's hand tight, and the girl would do anything to make him stop making that scaredy face. "Big Hibiki is amazing!" enthuses a little blue-haired girl after watching a video, and the silver-haired girl cries out "Come, Amiki!", and is crowned with a tiara. Another urchin swaps Friend Tickets with the girl, and she smiles.

Four hands reach out, and are subsumed by the spotlight as they all stride onstage together.

Hibiki has sunk all the way down to the floor now, on her knees. She has a hand splayed over her face dramatically, bangs shadowing her eyes, and her head is bowed. But her shoulders, slowly, so slowly, relax.

And she breathes out. ]

[unlucky7]

[Ginia doesn't try to end Hibiki's sentence for her. What Hibiki has found is something she can only determine here. Let it be friendship, but also let it be more. Nothing can really replace home or friends, but may it help. Let it be something that will carry her through whatever time she has here.

What Ginia does is set a hand on Hibiki's shoulder. She sees the way tension slips away from the god's shoulders, It's a light, supportive gesture before Ginia leans in and pulls Hibiki into a hug. Not everyone is a hugger and there's space for Hibiki to pull away, but it feels like a hug moment. If nothing else, just another reminder her words are sincere.]

1/2

[priforprince]

[ Hibiki sort of slumps against Ginia's side, now that she doesn't have to hold herself up anymore. This might be because she's suddenly very tired (true) or because she's very, very bad at knowing what to do when hugged (also true). So that's it, she thinks. That's what's been going on.

She still doesn't cry. She hasn't cried in ten years, and she isn't about to start for something like this - it's not her style. But. The Far Shore contains multiple people she can call her friends. How about that.

Somehow, she can almost see Fuwari and Falulu smiling. (Ando is sobbing. She won't look at him. Disgraceful goat.) And thinking that - Huh. Thinking that...didn't hurt.

Hibiki relaxes, fully relaxes, for all of two seconds. She even nearly smiles. ]

2/2

[priforprince]

[ Then her brain returns to full function. Still leaning on Ginia, in a position where she could fix the situation if she so chose, but giving no damns: ]

I'll have you release me.

[ Her haughty tone sounds like it'd never gone away. ]

[unlucky7]

[Ah, there's the Hibiki they all know. Ginia smiles at the tone, giving Hibiki's back a final pat before she sits back. There's not much else to say at this point. Hibiki looks well enough now and it's not as if there aren't others that want to check on her too. Work never stops at Ebisu's temple and no doubt more than a few coworkers will want to hear how the movie premier went.

Ginia stands and takes a page from Hibiki's book. She offers a princely bow and holds out a hand to help Hibiki up. She's not bowing to a god; she's helping a friend up. No breech of etiquette here.]

next week the spygoats all MYSTERIOUSLY have new ribbons

[priforprince]

Hmph.

[ Look at that. Hibiki smirks, reaches for that hand -

And wraps Ginia's fingers around the stem of a purple rose. She then lifts herself up all by her lonesome, though if there is the slightest moment during liftoff where her fingers happen to brush against Ginia's, well,

she's not telling if you're not telling. ]

Fret not. Once more, all is well.

[ There is a rumbling noise behind Ginia and then a whole herd of spygoats comes rolling onstage, practically (and sometimes actually) falling over each other in their hurry. Maaaaa-ster!!! Is it true?! Is Maa-ster okay?!?!?!?! She doesn't need an IV? Or CPriR?!?!?!??!

Hibiki folds her arms and closes her eyes so she doesn't have to watch this unsightly display. ]

[unlucky7]

[Some secrets are kept between friends. The rumble heralding the herd, Ginia deftly moves aside before they can trample her. She huffs as they bleat and crowd their master.

It's a fitting scene for a drama. The crowd celebrates the main character, reveling in her moment of glory and heroism, new direction to guide her. The deuteragonist, her job done, takes her leave. Ginia twirls the rose around in her fingers and tucks it into her hair before leaving. On stage, the lights shine on Hibiki as Ginia walks up the aisle of the concert hall in silhouette, a swift sign of umbra the last dramatic flair needed as she disappears into the shadows.]

[priforprince]

[ Has Ginia always had that theatricality.....?

No matter. Hibiki turns and heads in the opposite direction, swarmed by spygoats. When she's almost in the wings, she pauses, looks out across the concert hall.

The Far Shore, huh...?

Exit Hibiki, pursued by goats. Enter, a different kind of new age.

Revolution came. ]