Return to Tokyo-D

[opening_act]

[ You step through the portal into a place where black coats your vision— a solid, glossy coating of darkness that blocks out all light. For a moment, it is as though you've been been blindfolded, and all light is lost from your reach.

The light does not return.

But colors, in impossible neon hues hew through the dark and spangle newly across your vision. The city is drenched in kaleidoscopic light, the skyscrapers spiral to the heavens. At street level, it is Tokyo. Above that, stars move out of their orbits in dizzying motions. Other forms crowd the street with you— shiloettes of people drained of all their colors like it's bled into the city instead move about, not quite tangible but still giving off body heat. Monochrome figures also move through the crowd, a few demons, and

One demon that maybe some of you will recognize? Or not?

There's a girl with big puffy pigtails in full color with a bag full of groceries slung across her shoulder, heading somewhere. ]

Comments

[opening_act]

You turn off the lights to get everyone's attention for a big show.

[ She's spotted the idols, since your full color is attention grabbing as hers ]

[cw_suicide]

[cotton candy pinks and teal-blues is sure... noticeable, yeah.]

That is definitely one tactic. Though too much of the same light can be a blinding and therefore cause its own kind of void.

Ah, but... you are...?

[opening_act]

Exael~ The loveliest of all the hosts of Imeeji Productions! Welcome to Tokyo-D!

[cw_suicide]

Certainly, I can't object to you being the loveliest I have seen yet.

But Tokyo-D...? Then... two iterations before the Tokyo I was in before?

[opening_act]

More like, Tokyo @ Delphi. Tokyo-D is shorter! The Tokyo that's the very own property of our lovely lady and messenger from on high.

[cw_suicide]

On high?

[a pause... then points... vaguely upwards?]

[opening_act]

[nod nod nod nod ]

[cw_suicide]

[... skeptical but ok sure. he can pretend to believe.]

I see! Are we going to have a chance to meet the lovely lady?

[opening_act]

Noo~ot right now. Everyone's in a bit of a tizzy, editing footage and getting permissions and arguing about clean-up responsibilities.

[cw_suicide]

Ah, so they're not just going to leave it to us like they did the whole affair, then? How kind!

[opening_act]

Everyone tried really hard, but it's just the worst! My Lady's counterpart's been out of the office for like, forever~ he just wouldn't pick up his phone, so we couldn't get authorization to do aa~aaanything!

[ she whines, extremely put-upon. geeze, of course they wouldn't do thaaaa~at! ]

[cw_suicide]

My! What a slacking partner to have!

Is there anything that can be helped in that regard?

[opening_act]

With Azzy? He's just hopeless.

[cw_suicide]

[... why does this feel familiar except it's probably "Dazai" instead of "Azzy"]

That type, is it... well! Anything to help you, then?

[opening_act]

Come with me on a lovely stroll to the production office! I can give you a grand tour!

[cw_suicide]

Is it very far?

[opening_act]

Not very. We could take the subway, if you wanted! But it'd be farther to walk to the stop and back than going straight.

[cw_suicide]

I'll follow along, whatever path you pick, my lady.

[opening_act]

Okay, then I pick this one!

[ follow her into this dead-end alleyway, deserted of people ]

[cw_suicide]

[... WELP. THIS SURE SCREAMS HE'S GONNA GET MERC'D but better him than the girls, maybe.

so following, of course]

[opening_act]

[ he follows her into a dead-end alleyway, and she grins and takes his hand

and then they're in her office, anti-climatically. Or rather, an office that contains her desk, amongst other people's desks. She hasn't done her paperwork in an age, but it looks like she's not the only one. ]

I like magic tricks more than I like security.

[ she stage-whispers to him. ]

[cw_suicide]

[...... well, ok.]

Oh, in that case, I do know some sleight of hand, myself.

[and then he's pretending to pull a cute, pink bandaid out from behind her ear]

[opening_act]

[ claps!! ]

Bravo!

[cw_suicide]

[gives a bow!!]

[opening_act]

So, welcome to the office! Hosts don't really have to show too much, as long as we perform alright. I make all my scheduled appearances, so I just leave this stuff to interns most the time.