opening_act | Return to Tokyo-D

Return to Tokyo-D

[ 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. ]

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[cool cool cool. ignoring them as best he can, though his tail is puffed. making his way to a wall and turning to survey the scene from less smack in the middle of it.]

[ they're on a crowded path, a wide side-walk on either side of a wider yet road. It's this twisted Tokyo's version of Omotesando, if he can recognize the landmark mirrored entrance of Tokyu Plaza nearby. People are watching him still, and a girl in black and white, clothed all in Listen Flavor— she matches your unit's dress style— detaches from the crowd to crowd him. She's, without permission, posing for a selfy with you. Say cheese!

he can also see others that came in through the portal talking with Exael, since presumably they came through at the same time so he has the chance to go with them if he wants— or not. she doesn't have appeared to have noticed him, keeping track of four other idols that just dropped into her lap. ]

[noah smiles for the camera, then detaches as soon as he's able.

he thinks about it. going with the others. susanoo is there. but he didn't come to be herded around, and susanoo isn't alone.

so he's striking off in the opposite direction before exael notices his colors, if he can.]

[ He can. The girl laughs happily and gets right on texting it to her friends, since she got what she wanted.

he starts off in the opposite direction. He'll see advertisements and merchandise that shows him and his fellow idols in some of the stores, on some of the signs. No wonder he sticks out and is getting attention, even full-color aside. But where is he heading for now? ]

[he absolutely isn't familiar with any landmarks that aren't in Imeeji, so he's simply heading down the sidewalk until something catches his eye or he's accosted again.]

[ dice says he achieves objectives without problems.

In imeeji terms, the Great Burger is near here if he heads towards the building with all the mirrors, he can head to Harujuku, an area lined with alternative fashion shops and a very crowded alleyway. If he wants to slip away or be mistaken for a cosplayer without changing, that's the place to do it.

If he heads the opposite direction, the Omotesando Hills shopping mall is located in a mirrored high rise, if he wants to try and get different clothes, as well as a subway station underground ]

[thanks dice!

in the direction of harajuku it is, then. since... he'd normally just get new clothes with a hood, but his lovely new antlers are going to defy that sort of thing.]

[ He enters Harujuku— the one in Tokyo-D is as narrow as the real thing, and in the streets people give him less attention. This area is for people who stand out and he's not the only person in color here, nor a full-body style.

Unfortunately, right at the entrance, there's a group of other people in color, and someone grabs his wrist— they're dressed up like one of your unitmates, though the facial features are wrong. They've mistaken you as someone from their group ]

Oh my god, why are you late again? Don't tell me you forgot because you spent all last night watching reruns? Your make-up and accessories are on-point, but it doesn't matter if you don't make it to the photo-shoot on time! I thought maybe some of those weird cultists got you.

[ They are hilariously OOC for the person they're dressed as— Persephone. ]

[well this is

wild

he blinks for a few moments, then endeavors to seem apologetic.]

My mistake. Sorry for making you wait.

Oh wow, in character already?

[ They blink, seeming impressed.

Then they seem to decide deliberately against being impressed. ]

Ugh, try-hard. Whatever, we have the studio booked out for just the next hour, so we'd better get in good shots or I'm killing you again.

[his ears flick, amused. and here he had tempered his speech patterns. might as well just act himself, then!]

I am sure things will turn out for the best.

[ they roll their eyes, and a guy in the group elbows you and whispers apologetically: ]

Sorry. They put up my part of the payment for the studio time, and even if we're popular enough for technicolor, it's not like there's that much to spare.

[ ...is... that an apology? It actually seems like he's trying to guilt trip you, as the Persephone cosplayer leads you to a photo studio. ]

[hm. well, given the whisper, he can get away with not answering!! onward.]

[ He enters the studio without problem, though the Persephone cosplayer has to stop at the front desk and pay, and looks strained and drained afterwards, technicolor meaning the pale bloodless skin isn't just a trick of the black and white.

the room inside is a blank white, which is so bright as to be almost blinding after the thick dark of everywhere else. It radiates, like the neon colors do.

The guy who apologized— the Susanoo cosplayer, a little shorter than the real thing, turns to you ]

So, you're the best on the camera. We're counting on you, man.

[this is... honestly hysterical to him, but he gives it full smarmy bard charm with his sweeping bow.]

I shall give it my all, of course.

[ he gives you a weird look and someone else (your group's Levi) mutters something about "fucking soulbonders".

The Persephone cosplayer, meanwhile, is dragging the Lucifel into a pose on one of the stairs, which they then stand opposite them, doing the same pose. It looks like they're a mirror, but their expressions are totally different— Lucifel's a manic smile, Persephone's face like calm clear water.

The Susanoo throws himself down the stairs in front of them doing a pair of peace signs while the Levi and Sekmet try to catch on to the back of his shirt and stop him. He is actually probably going to slam into the camera tripod if no one catches him

are you. photographing any of this. what are you doing, Noah. ]

[this is. just so much. it's hard not to start laughing???

he is dutifully getting behind the camera, though he is uh. scooting it back to a bit more safety, no thank you Susie Cosplayer.

luckily, his brief time during unitswap as a lilis means he does like, have half a clue what to do with a camera, if not a FANCY one, so he's taking like. basic shots of first the actiony shenanigans, then the twinsies.]

[ The action shot's a bit blurry when it comes to the Susie cosplayer, but the others turn out well!

Once the Susanoo cosplayer gets his face off the floor he scoots behind him to look over his shoulder at the shots. ]

Not bad, man! Knew you had it in you! You wanna take a go in front of the camera? You put in all this work getting all dressed up, and all.

We have an hour, yes? I do not mind taking a few more before switching off.

[he has NO idea how he's expected to act in front of the camera, so,, "soulbonding" intensifies? while he tries to figure out exactly how he'd be caricatured for these people.]

[ and then, the real Noah cosplayer they were waiting on bursts in.

he looks almost exactly like you, though his eyes are contact lenses. he's really really good at the effects make-up, though. He is shouting nearly as soon as he is in the door ]

Why did none of you—

[ he sees you

spider-man pointing ]

[ok

yes

sorry

cracking the fuck up]

[ he roars: ]

THIS MAN IS AN IMPOSTER!!

Pray forgive me, but I am fairly certain that, by definition, that is you?

I am a proud cosplayer, currently dedicating myself to Noah in all his incarnations.

[ He straightens, trying poorly to look above this all. ] I would never infiltrate a rival cosplay group for the sake of ruining their photoshoots! For my pride, and to not tarnish the man whose face I bear, I would never do such a thing.

[...looks to the rest of the group.]

I now see what you mean about soul bonders.

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