[There's memories now, they trickle in like sand falling through an hour glass. They're weird and disjoined; surreal. It's a strange dream that's just too uncanny to be true but too real to forget completely. How fitting, considering the theme of their last live...]
[Mayoi doesn't understand what it fully means, but he does know with some certainty the answer to Rui's question. His smile is still a little watery, but he nods, finally meeting his eyes properly with all the recognition that should have been there from the start.]
...Yes. I-
[Bring a hand to his mouth in thought- maybe even guilt.]
I-I don't remember everything, but- that place... That stage we once stood on, it had to be real ....right?
To be quite honest, I'm not sure if I remember everything either. More and more comes back every minute, but is that all real or wish-fulfilment?
[He sighs, subconsciously mirroring Mayoi's gesture even as he smiles faintly at him. Never mind what else he remembers, if certain parts even were reality back there; it's good enough just to be recognised. Everything can be rebuilt, if it needs to be.]
At any rate, I'm...Glad to see you again, Ayase. I saw a performance of yours on television, and your unit...
I remember thinking that you must shine even more brightly when you were with them, and I was right. I'm a little sad that I missed them, today. I came as fast as I could, once I realised that this is the place you mentioned.
I...I suppose we may never know. But ...it's enough, I think, that what I feel in my heart is real. It simply threatened to fall to pieces at the thought of you walking away just now.
[He fidgets a little with his hands, bringing them close to his chest. Common Mayoi habits. He turns a little pink at the compliment.]
Y-You saw our performance at Underland? I'm so glad... I'm so glad I could reach you in this way. That you could find me in return... [Ah, he wants to cry again. Hold it together, Ayase.]
I will introduce you to them! Ah, perhaps tomorrow...? In the meantime, I-I can show you around...!
Ha! Truth be told, if you hadn't come out...I don't know what I would have done with myself, knowing you were here and still out of reach. I really don't know.
[But that's moot, by now. Part of it was real enough to sink into them both, and so
it's probably safe to move in closer. Even if only to attempt to dry any lingering tears with his stupid silk handkerchiefs.]
It's as though I never saw this place until I saw you on television. Until then, I just...Didn't notice it was here. You weren't wrong; it's a fantastic place, even just what I've seen of it. So full of life, and passion...Of course someone like you would want to practice here.
[Back the hankies go, and he just sits there, a little too close, smiling and still vibrating out of his skin. Too afraid to move back, even if that's probably polite. What if that breaks the spell or something? What if he can't see each point of Mayoi's teeth so well from a few centimetres more away, or can't quite see the way his eyes shine, or how their faces are probably equally pink?]
Show me the best routes to sneak in, so I can visit you. Maybe I'll do a flash mob one day down on the ground floor, just to ask you out on a proper date. Fufu~
[Mayoi frowns there, some kneejerk anxiety rushing up at the thought that he might not have remembered and left Rui-san in such a state alone. It makes his skin crawl that he came so close to hurting him like that. Foul, terrible, awful thing, he is.]
[He manages to swallow it down, just barely. He remembers now, that Rui-san did not like to hear him speak so terribly of himself. His nasty words will only make this worse, so he holds it in.]
Fate has been ...very kind to us.
[With a deep breath and his smile returning, he inches a little closer. He reaches for a moment for Rui's hands but pauses just shy, taking a quick glance around. Hm. No cameras, and no sign of That Rat who might try to use Rui-san against him. It should be fine. That assessment done, he will hold his hands out in earnest fort Rui to take.]
I can show you ever nook and crany of this wonderful place. I know this building like I know my own body, and there are hideaways and paths that no one but I can access. [A beat.] I have a master key.
give him a second to just look at their hands and try to process what this means. It's very different to casually just inserting yourself into someone else's space and touching them without any expectations of positive reaction!!]
...It has been.
[h. Okay. Don't be fucking weird for once, Rui. Make eye contact!!]
That makes sense, however. That you have a master key, and that you know this building so well. You spoke of it so fondly, before...I knew that, even if you didn't want to see me, I had to at least come back here and maybe perform, or bring my troupe. I'll do that anyway, but...It won't be so difficult, fufu~
[Tsukasa could probably shine even brighter, if he came here. Or even Nene. They're both the sort of stars who could only fly farther and farther away with training and resources. though is introducing your crush to your other crush a good idea? who knows!
Anyway. Time to stand up, ready to pull Mayoi to his feet because like hell he's releasing his hand any time soon.] You know, I'm impressed. You weren't embarrassed at all by my proposing to ask you out. I think I'd probably swoon if the tables turned...You're stronger than I am, Ayase.
[He is patient, and when Rui takes his hands, Mayoi holds them very firmly, like he has no intention of letting go any time soon.]
This meeeeeeans that I can see Rui-san's troupe perfoooooorm~
[Oh, this is very exciting actually. These things that have occurred to him in a strange deja vous manner. He knew he wanted to see them, that they'd had conversations about this in the past, only it's just now coming back to him. It's a very surreal feeling, processing all of this at once.]
Fufu~ that is because ...I already have sinister plans in mind. You see, I was going to take you away somewhere dark and quiet all to myself once you let your guard down, Rui-san.
Although I doubt that Phoenix Wonderland is something that you'd enjoy, the Wonder Stage is on the edge of the park, and the audience is typically a tolerable size when we perform. If you like, I could organise a pass for whatever day you'd like to come and see us. You could bring friends, too. ...If you'd like. If not, maybe I could ask the others to let you watch a rehearsal and offer critiques? Not that you'd actually have to, even if your input would mean the world, but it'd be enough to let you get a much quieter experience!
[There's that mania gleaming through his eyes, through his wild grin, and yet he still continues rolling both thumbs over Mayoi's knuckles as he chatters away. It's so, so rare that he actually gets to share things that he loves with someone who could understand, and not even his love for ramune could compare to his love for Wonderlands x Showtime.
It buoys him through the immediate urge to fluster, even. A deep breath in to move through that particular wall, before he brings one hand to his lips.] ...Which is to say that I'd love for you to watch us perform, however it happens.
And for the record, you could take me anywhere, and I would follow without hesitation. You could lead me astray right now, fully warned, and I'd still do it. But in return, I'm going to bring you into the glowing warmth that you deserve to feel.
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[Mayoi doesn't understand what it fully means, but he does know with some certainty the answer to Rui's question. His smile is still a little watery, but he nods, finally meeting his eyes properly with all the recognition that should have been there from the start.]
...Yes. I-
[Bring a hand to his mouth in thought- maybe even guilt.]
I-I don't remember everything, but- that place... That stage we once stood on, it had to be real ....right?
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[He sighs, subconsciously mirroring Mayoi's gesture even as he smiles faintly at him. Never mind what else he remembers, if certain parts even were reality back there; it's good enough just to be recognised. Everything can be rebuilt, if it needs to be.]
At any rate, I'm...Glad to see you again, Ayase. I saw a performance of yours on television, and your unit...
I remember thinking that you must shine even more brightly when you were with them, and I was right. I'm a little sad that I missed them, today. I came as fast as I could, once I realised that this is the place you mentioned.
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[He fidgets a little with his hands, bringing them close to his chest. Common Mayoi habits. He turns a little pink at the compliment.]
Y-You saw our performance at Underland? I'm so glad... I'm so glad I could reach you in this way. That you could find me in return... [Ah, he wants to cry again. Hold it together, Ayase.]
I will introduce you to them! Ah, perhaps tomorrow...? In the meantime, I-I can show you around...!
[He sounds so hopeful. Will Rui say yes...?]
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[But that's moot, by now. Part of it was real enough to sink into them both, and so
it's probably safe to move in closer. Even if only to attempt to dry any lingering tears with his stupid silk handkerchiefs.]
It's as though I never saw this place until I saw you on television. Until then, I just...Didn't notice it was here. You weren't wrong; it's a fantastic place, even just what I've seen of it. So full of life, and passion...Of course someone like you would want to practice here.
[Back the hankies go, and he just sits there, a little too close, smiling and still vibrating out of his skin. Too afraid to move back, even if that's probably polite. What if that breaks the spell or something? What if he can't see each point of Mayoi's teeth so well from a few centimetres more away, or can't quite see the way his eyes shine, or how their faces are probably equally pink?]
Show me the best routes to sneak in, so I can visit you. Maybe I'll do a flash mob one day down on the ground floor, just to ask you out on a proper date. Fufu~
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[He manages to swallow it down, just barely. He remembers now, that Rui-san did not like to hear him speak so terribly of himself. His nasty words will only make this worse, so he holds it in.]
Fate has been ...very kind to us.
[With a deep breath and his smile returning, he inches a little closer. He reaches for a moment for Rui's hands but pauses just shy, taking a quick glance around. Hm. No cameras, and no sign of That Rat who might try to use Rui-san against him. It should be fine. That assessment done, he will hold his hands out in earnest fort Rui to take.]
I can show you ever nook and crany of this wonderful place. I know this building like I know my own body, and there are hideaways and paths that no one but I can access. [A beat.] I have a master key.
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HAND......hold......hand.........h
give him a second to just look at their hands and try to process what this means. It's very different to casually just inserting yourself into someone else's space and touching them without any expectations of positive reaction!!]
...It has been.
[h. Okay. Don't be fucking weird for once, Rui. Make eye contact!!]
That makes sense, however. That you have a master key, and that you know this building so well. You spoke of it so fondly, before...I knew that, even if you didn't want to see me, I had to at least come back here and maybe perform, or bring my troupe. I'll do that anyway, but...It won't be so difficult, fufu~
[Tsukasa could probably shine even brighter, if he came here. Or even Nene. They're both the sort of stars who could only fly farther and farther away with training and resources.
though is introducing your crush to your other crush a good idea? who knows!Anyway. Time to stand up, ready to pull Mayoi to his feet because like hell he's releasing his hand any time soon.] You know, I'm impressed. You weren't embarrassed at all by my proposing to ask you out. I think I'd probably swoon if the tables turned...You're stronger than I am, Ayase.
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This meeeeeeans that I can see Rui-san's troupe perfoooooorm~
[Oh, this is very exciting actually. These things that have occurred to him in a strange deja vous manner. He knew he wanted to see them, that they'd had conversations about this in the past, only it's just now coming back to him. It's a very surreal feeling, processing all of this at once.]
Fufu~ that is because ...I already have sinister plans in mind. You see, I was going to take you away somewhere dark and quiet all to myself once you let your guard down, Rui-san.
no subject
Although I doubt that Phoenix Wonderland is something that you'd enjoy, the Wonder Stage is on the edge of the park, and the audience is typically a tolerable size when we perform. If you like, I could organise a pass for whatever day you'd like to come and see us. You could bring friends, too. ...If you'd like. If not, maybe I could ask the others to let you watch a rehearsal and offer critiques? Not that you'd actually have to, even if your input would mean the world, but it'd be enough to let you get a much quieter experience!
[There's that mania gleaming through his eyes, through his wild grin, and yet he still continues rolling both thumbs over Mayoi's knuckles as he chatters away. It's so, so rare that he actually gets to share things that he loves with someone who could understand, and not even his love for ramune could compare to his love for Wonderlands x Showtime.
It buoys him through the immediate urge to fluster, even. A deep breath in to move through that particular wall, before he brings one hand to his lips.] ...Which is to say that I'd love for you to watch us perform, however it happens.
And for the record, you could take me anywhere, and I would follow without hesitation. You could lead me astray right now, fully warned, and I'd still do it. But in return, I'm going to bring you into the glowing warmth that you deserve to feel.