first stage :: video :: open to both courts!

[truecaptain]

[Kanata had thought long and hard about what she wanted to say. There were a lot of jumbled thoughts and feelings running through her right now, but she'd finally settled on it. What would the thirteenth Acchan have done? What would Takamina do? That's where her thoughts stayed rooted.

So when she finally turns the video on it's to a girl with heart-shaped highlights in her hair and eyes (although the latter isn't apparent at first as her eyes are closed.]

My name is Kanata Shinonome of the idol group AKB0048. I've been a member, mm, for some time now. Nearly three years... And, somehow, during that time I've become captain to the understudies of our group. It's my duty to do whatever I can to support the other members and all of our fans. Even here, being captain is just as important. Even if I were alone, I'd stand by what 0048 does.

[She pauses and opens her eyes with a breath.]

AKB0048 brings our song, our hopes, ours dreams to everyone. No matter who they are, we want them to be able to express theirs freely as well. We want to create the "wonderland" of everyone's dreams... That's why... Seelie? Unseelie? Our song expands beyond titles and species-- [She looks momentarily amused]-- really.

And as long as I'm here, I'm going to pass on the hope they've given me! So if you ever hear it, listen, okay? I know it's difficult and difficult things seemed to have happened recently, but I have to believe in it. 0048's never given up and so I won't for the people here either... After all... no matter how deep the river is, or how fast the current-- the river bank is there on the side to catch you!

video; open to both courts

[ortolan]

Good afternoon, I am Doctor Hannibal Lecter. It is a rare pleasure to have the opportunity to meet so many new and interesting people. I must admit that I have had some difficulty adjusting to this brave, new world and I can only hope that you are doing better than I.

[ The image-feed shows a neatly dressed man somewhere in his late forties standing in front of the curtain wall around Caer Glaem. As he speaks, he walks on with the burrowing faeries and climbing rose-vines looping behind him. He's chosen his direction well and the late afternoon suns highlights the angles of his face, but doesn't glare into the locket or blind the viewer. ]

I have spent some little time thinking about why we have been brought here - there is the story of the shards and I do not need that repeated - but do you really believe that these gems nestle in the breast at random? Or is there a skill one court or the other needs from you? What gift do you bring your king and queen?