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!

Comments

private voice;

[truecaptain]

What did you say?

private voice;

[bythewaves]

Hm? Ah. Your pardon. I called you Tinwe - it means... mm "little spark", in my mother tongue.

private voice;

[truecaptain]

Oh. [ She hesitates briefly. ] 0048 will unite the galaxies by becoming a constellation of hope. We'll show you more then a 'little spark'.

private voice;

[bythewaves]

We shall see. [ the shrug is almost audible ]

Hope eh? I suppose many could use more.

private voice;

[truecaptain]

Everyone deserves hope.

private voice;

[bythewaves]

Perhaps...

private voice;

[truecaptain]

It's true.

[ She's not going to let them argue about this, whoops. ]

private voice;

[bythewaves]

Perhaps for others... [ soft and fading ] but it a little too late for me I think.

private voice;

[truecaptain]

You keep saying then and I'm still not going to let you think that way, you know.

private video;

[bythewaves]

[ A long considering pause and then the video flips on briefly

Maglor is far, far too pale, and where he sits, outside the Station, in the dappled shade of the trees he already seems to fade into the shadows, as if the sunlight passes through him, as if there is a light beneath his skin that devours him from inside out ]

I fear I am already all but a ghost, tinwe. [ he murmurs ] I do not think this process can be reversed.

[ and blip, it goes off again ]

private voice

[truecaptain]

[ A pause. It's a brief one as she tries to figure out what to say. ]

Then if it's really like that shouldn't you do what you can while you have the time? If you talk like it's all over before it's over then you're only making it come true. There's plenty to do right here and now.

private voice

[bythewaves]

Oh, there is certainly plenty to do [ something dark in his voice ] But to what ends, in a world like this, I wonder? I have had enough of being a pawn in their games.