showhost | ( r6 ) talking-head: minami.

Hehe, that makes me happy. [ his laughter is light even though something in his chest is heavy. the handshake(?) motion is silly too, though he's okay with rolling with it for now. ]

So do you like elephants? You never answered me before!

[ maybe he'll be more honest now...

also was there a pink elephant in his school dream last night? ]

[WELL THERE SURE WERE NOW. Tsukasa remembers that a little easier this time, if only because now this is twice--and he blinks tilting his head.]

Well... I suppose I don't have anything against elephants.

[they are silly looking animals associated with the circus and that is why they pop up in his silly little dreams.]

It's strange though. I feel like I dreamed about elephants too. What a coincidence, ha ha ha! Maybe I like them more than I first thought!

[ wow here he was considering Fessing up and then tsukasa just assumes so. who would he be to tell him otherwise. ]

It's totally a coincidence ★. If you dreamt about them it doesn't mean you like them necessarily, just that they mean something to you. Or symbolize something.

Just like seeing the color Pink in your dreams could mean that it's your favorite color or just a general note of playfulness about you. Or it could be that you're ready to take on a challenge while keeping everything in mind.

Well, I'm definitely always ready for a challenge!

[Preens.

But, now that he thinks about it...]

Actually, there usually is quite a bit of pink... [hmmm.] I've always assumed it's because the Wonder Stage is quite pink. [And so is Emu. And Saki.]

[ smiling because he Knows even if he's only sat in on two dreams now he Knows!!! ]

What's the Wonder Stage exactly?

It is--

[A beat. Tsukasa clears his throat, and smiles.]

Rather, it was the stage that my troupe and I used to call home. Wonder Stage, at the theme park Phoenix Wonderland. That is where I got my start as an actor!

[as for the stage in his dream, that's one he's gonna be a little cagier about. That's supposed to be a Sekrit.]

[ he'll ask about that at some point but probably not right now. right now he's focused on simple things because somethings poking at him and he doesn't want to think about it. ]

A theme park, huh? I've never been to a theme park—I've seen a lot of them in shows and books [ in dreams ] but I've never been.

Was it fun working there?

It was incredibly fun!

[He's a little loud, but... also just sounds so very, very happy. Wonder Stage was his home, Emu and Rui and Nene have become his family, and the shows they put on are some he feels he can be so very proud of.]

I had so many opportunities to learn and grow, both as an actor and a person... those memories will always be irreplaceable to me.

[...]

But if you've never been to a theme park, you should come to Phoenix Wonderland! [he is biased, but--] You're certain to leave with a big smile on your face!

[ he can't be louder than minami (i think) so it's totally fine. ]

Is that an invitation? Okay, let's go! [ swinging their hands a little.

how far is it?
can they even go right now?
is the production crew listening in on this?

none of these thoughts are in his head. ]

I'll show you all of the sights!

[He is agreeing with this, apparently,,,]

And you can experience a proper show put on at Wonder Stage, with the rest of WonderlandsxShowtime!

[He is sparkling just thinking about it....... BUT THERE ARE RESPONSIBILITIES.]

But first, we must see this through--me as the host, and you as a competitor trying to win! The only way we'll see everyone leave here with smiles on their faces is if we both give it our all.

Hmmm..... [ for dramatic effect, because he really doesn't need to think about it except for one little part.

the smiles of everyone else he doesn't care about. it's actually mostly the inverse of his existence, but. finding out if any of the souls here are suitable for him is important.

and— ]

'kay, I'll agree to that. As long as it's a date.

Of course!

[He says, immediately, unthinkingly.

processing.........]

A-

A-

D-d-date?!

[Tsukasa you are holding hands in a private room. Get it together. Why is this a surprise?]

H-hold on a moment! You're here to find love with the other contestants on this show! Somewhere out there, you have a perfect match!

I couldn't dream of ripping away your happiness and theirs by promising to go on a later date with you!

[oh, so that's the problem]

[ it's insurance, minami tells himself.

there may be someone suitable here for him in most of the sense, but if they're just as stubborn as the guy currently causing him the most Upset Tummy of all time that's no good. and he doesn't have much time to win them over given the sound of what he's sure is seiya throwing aside all his other work in hell to track him down. and that's not even counting the very real possibility that he's matched with someone who is basically seiya in a wig.

he needs a good, pure, soul who's open to fudging this way or that way just a little bit, whether it's due to selfishness or something else. someone who's entirely resolute? they'd just make his stomache even worse. but they can't be too soft either, or they'd spoil before soothing his stomach. what he's looking for is basically impossible, but it's all he has. his very existence depends on it.

but of course minami conveys none of this. he watches and smiles as tsukasa connects the dots, "yes, good.", as he flusters and yells. ]

Tsukasa-chan. [ his voice is lower, not the terrifying low tone he took when he walked out of here the very first day but more than his usual. enough to show that he's serious about this, one way or another. ]

Not everyone will find love here—at least in the way it's been arranged. Maybe some of them will work out, but what if they wind up hating each other? Because of a misunderstanding, or because it was set up that way for the drama and viewership. What if a match results not in the perfect love but in the most perfect of friendships?

I'll still play, I'll swear it.

There's some people who have decided to be exclusive already you know, completely cutting off any chance they might have with anyone else.

I'm not asking for that, but for something to look forward to. Isn't that happiness too?

Edited 2024-11-14 17:43 (UTC)

[... It's just... a promise of future happiness, right? Something to look forward to. And if--when--Minami finds his perfect match, he can always just take Minami on a totally platonic date around Phoenix Wonderland, too. His perfect match can even come! That's perfect!!!

... Right. It's fine. Minami will continue to play the game, continue to pursue his happiness, and Tsukasa is in the business of making people smile.

It doesn't feel right to disappoint Minami here, with that in mind.

(The fact that he's totally fine with the idea of it being a date, all complications of the show and situation aside, does not even cross his mind. Tsukasa is a responsible guy, sometimes to his own detriment, so he would never lead someone on.

Maybe he'll realize it properly later, and actually have to face what that means.)]

... Well, I guess I can't argue with that...

[Future happiness, getting to experience a theme park for the first time, (date?!?!?!?!), seeing a show at Wonder Stage...!! All things worth doing.]

Then it's a deal. After this is all wrapped up, it'll be a date.

Good, good. It's a deal and a date. [ he smiles, proud of himself. his feelings might have actually gotten the tiniest bit ruffled with the whole will kerfluffle, solely on the basis that he's supposed to be persuasive and that boy wasn't moving an inch. incubi aren't demons of pride, but they still carry it pretty high.

but enough about that business. this is good! great, cause it means that even if he blows up everything with the rest of the house (likely) he's not shit out of luck. mmm maybe it's too good? maybe he should give some of this good back so he doesn't break out in hives. ]

Mmmn. But you should still make me swear that I'll play as best as I can. I can be pretty moody.

[ he is trying to throw tsukasa a bone here- ]

[Hmm...? Swear it? Even if Minami is moody, a swear seems like pretty serious business for something like a game show...

(Even though Tsukasa just promised earlier. It's fine. Don't worry about it.)

He tilts his head, frowning lightly in contemplation.]

Swear it, huh... [Hmmm...] But you've already said you'll continue to play, so...

[He believes Minami obviously???]

If you're already going to swear to something, why not something more fun? Like... ah, I've got it! You could promise to try to have a good time! [sparkles]

I always try to have a good time cuz— [ well. he could offer that? ]

If you don't want me to swear then how about I tell you a secret instead?

[ please accept something that benefits you tsukasa his arms are getting heavy already from purely positive(?) things already. ]

[... Oh. Well! It seems like Minami is determined to do something, so...]

Very well then, a secret! I promise to keep it close! [He is a loud-mouth but.

He'll probably be good at his word even if he has to shove his entire hand into his mouth to keep himself from spilling.]

[ if minami was anyone else he'd wonder if he should even say this but.

-it's going to come out soon anyway, because he's had Enough.
-he's not ashamed that he's a demon either. if anything, he's proud of it.

he tugs their hands to pull tsukasa closer to whisper into this ear. (most likely production knows considering where they had to take him from But just in case they don't~) ]

I'm a demon. I won't tell you what type yet, but if you want to guess I'll give you free guesses until I get bored.

And I'm not here to find someone who will protect me, or look out for everyone, or save the world.

But I do like you. You're fun, Tsukasa-chan. And pretty cute. I could just eat you up~.

Edited 2024-11-14 19:29 (UTC)

[....... Ah.

It sends a chill down Tsukasa's spine, even as he smiles uncomprehendingly at Minami. He remembers this. That tone is--

--just like at the end of their last interview.

That glint in his eye is--]

[--chilling.

Tsukasa didn't believe in things like other worlds, and magic, and demons. Sure, he has a SEKAI, and that would imply that there's some weirdness going on--but that can be waved away as technology, right? Right?! He honestly just stopped thinking about it at a certain point.

But.

There are people from other worlds here. That's been confirmed for him now. Lessing isn't human either. Nor is Will.

So demons... which he's familiar with from back home--

Why shouldn't demons also exist? But to think he'd be staring one in the eye like this, to think he'd be tugged close and be told--

I could just eat you up.

(Of course he's afraid. Who wouldn't be, told that by a demon?)]

[... Still. He doesn't think Minami is here to hurt him. Surely he'd just go ahead and do that already if that was the plan. Instead he's telling him this, and made him promise to put on a show--

Ah.

Right. So that's why...

... He drags in a slow, shaky breath. He's--not sure what to do with things like demons and magic and other worlds. But he is Tsukasa Tenma, soon to be a world-wide star, and he doesn't go back on his word.]

... I'll-- I'm still going to put on that show for you. I promised... a-after all.

Mmhmm. You promised. [ there's no inflection on that word even if there could be.

what there is, is strangely a sweet floral scent that tickles at tsukasa's nose. it won't really soothe his nerves any but it will help him breathe easier. tsukasa's given minami many gifts today after all, not the least of which is fear because he is an incubus who causes nightmares and if souls are his sustenance, fear is like water to wash it all down with. ]

So what do you think of me now? Do you hate me? Do you still want me to be happy?

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