first song ✬ video

[theloverscard]

Hello? Hey, is this thing working?

[Video pulls back to reveal... an Idol! Rise stares into the device, frowning. She adjusts her rowan crown around her head as she speaks.]

If this is a prank, it's not funny. Whatever this is, my name's Rise Kujikawa and I really need to get home right now, okay?

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[toplay_thefool]

[It's her. The momentary disbelief is something he's barely aware of now - he's too used to this, almost desensitized to the appearance of familiar faces. Something that hasn't shifted is the strange, jarring combination of relief and guilt that follows.

But he's been feeling so very guilty recently that he hardly feels that, either.

Her timing is either impeccable or atrocious, but he suddenly finds himself sick with relief that she didn't arrive in time for last weekend.

So s'up Rise, it's Souji. He's still looking a little worse for wear - his face, certainly, is heavily bruised. He doesn't seem particularly surprised, either (in fact, he's a little anxious, not that he's showing it).]

Rise-chan.

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[theloverscard]

Sen-

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[theloverscard]

Senpai?! What are you- What happened to you?

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[toplay_thefool]

[oh he'd almost forgotten about that.]

I was in a fight. I'll explain later.

Right now - we've got a little more ground to cover. [A brief flicker of a smile.]

You're by a huge stone building, right?

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[theloverscard]

A fight? [Her frown only deepens. She was pretty excited to see you again, but not like this...]

Uh, y-yeah I am. What's going on, Senpai? This can't be the TV world, right? It feels different.

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[toplay_thefool]

I'm coming to meet you. Wait there, and keep the wreathe you woke up with, okay?

[he's still out of action when it comes to watch shifts, and everyone seems intent on more rest - but this is important, and he can walk just fine.]

We're not in the TV world, but we are in another world - us and others, too, who seem to come from even more worlds.

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[theloverscard]

Are you sure you're well enough for that? [Rise adjusts her crown again.] Okay...

So then, what is this place? Someone told me that we were kidnapped by fairies.

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[toplay_thefool]

I'm alright. [Said quite firmly. NOT YOU TOO, RISE.]

Actually, that's the gist of it. We're still figuring out why we're here, but for the time being, we're trapped.

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[theloverscard]

And that's it? No clues or cryptic messages whatsoever? How are we going to get home?

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[toplay_thefool]

Well - sometimes, people do leave. But they don't get a say in it. It almost seems to be totally at random.

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[theloverscard]

Now that just makes no sense. What kind of fickle kidnappers are these things?

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[toplay_thefool]

It's complicated. Some of the fae are openly hostile, too - others have helped us out.

[He detours to the forge to get a link of iron for her, and then starts up the path.

He was here only a few nights ago. Chasing Adachi.

Regardless:] We all need to be careful. Some of them can be... tricky.

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[theloverscard]

Tricky? Like how?

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[toplay_thefool]

Sometimes it's impossible to tell their intentions until they're right beside you. The rowan twigs you woke up with will help against any mental manipulation, and ward some away - I'm bringing you some iron, too, which also defends against most of them.

[sorry rise, he is slower due to being beaten within an inch of his life...]

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[theloverscard]

So is this just some game to them? They brought us here to mess with us?

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[toplay_thefool]

There's more to it than that - but we're still only just piecing it together.

Hold on. I'm almost there.

[He disconnects, but a minute or so later he crests the top of the hill.

His smile is wan, but earnest. He is happy to see her, after all.

He offers a nonchalant little wave.

He looks even worse in person.]