Open Thread / Overflow

[pussy_whip]

You know what to do.

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The Lovers

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[ Adjusting to life on the nameless island is taking some time, but Ann is making strides. Thanks to the greenhouse, she at least has food enough these days, and while it's almost all fruits and vegetables, she can't complain. Beggars can't be choosers, after all. It's not cake, but it's still fresh, good food, and it's better than going hungry by quite a long shot.

Using her plaid flannel shirt as a makeshift sling, Ann wanders up and down the aisles of the greenhouse picking whatever seems best and most ripe. With an assortment of cucumbers, tomatoes, bell peppers and berries in tow, she's paused to look over a weird vine with strange, hairy-looking fruits. ]

What the heck are these?

[stripsearch]

[Rise doesn't have to come here for food anymore. Honestly, with the amount of sex she and Yu have been having, they're generating enough sexual energy to get nice food for a change.

But that doesn't mean she can't come here for some healthy stuff, too. Even if she's no longer an idol, she's still gotta watch her figure! ...mostly for her Senpai.

The blonde girl who asks a question gets her to lean over for a better look.] Uh...

...sorry, no clue. Maybe they're some kinda alien fruit? [She admits.

She really looks familiar, right Ann? But way too young.]

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It looks kind of like a lychee, doesn't it? But... fuzzier.

[ Ann laughs and picks a few of the weird alien fruit, dropping them into her shirt sling before turning to look down at the new arrival.

She freezes.

Okay, hold on a second. There's no way that this girl is the Rise Kujikawa, pop idol sensation. She's tiny, and way too young... right? What would be the odds of that, anyway? Astronomical, right? Right?

She laughs again, a little nervous this time. ]

Y'know, you probably hear this a lot, but you look just like that singer, Rise Kujikawa. It's kind of uncanny.

[stripsearch]

Are you supposed to cut the skin off or something before you eat it? It doesn't look like it'd taste good at all.

[Depending on how astute Ann is at the moment, she might notice that Rise pauses, just slightly, when she mentions that.

It's the first time she's been recognized since coming here, by someone she doesn't know. Back home, she's ready to be recognized; here, it catches her off guard.

She gives Ann an easy smile, a practiced smile.] I do get that a lot.

Are you a fan?

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[ Ann plucks another of the hairy fruits from the vine and tries to peel it, picking at the skin with her nails. It's tougher than it looks! They wouldn't be growing it in a greenhouse like this if it wasn't meant for human consumption, right?

Rise's question has her chuckling a little sheepishly, but she nods. ]

Yeah, I guess I am! I was living in Finland back when she got her start, y'know? So I missed out on a lot of that early music--all the Risette stuff. Her style's changed a lot since then, but I like the new stuff. Actually, they were promoting a new album of hers just a few months ago.

[stripsearch]

[Rise blinks, and the expression on her face is now simply one of confusion. She doesn't understand what Ann means at all, and it shows on her face before she can wrangle her emotions under control.] "Since then"...?

It hasn't been that long since the whole hiatus thing, right? She's kinda young to have "before" and "after" phases of her career already. [Rise says, trying to sound like she's joking, but realy, she's just terribly puzzled right now.

Wait, Ann had said a new album came out a few months ago. That's not possible.

Elle was from the future, right? What if someone could be from like-- the sorta future, not the far future.]

...weird question. What year is it where you're from?

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Huh? It's been years since she went on hiatus.

[ Ann takes another look, squinting a little. It's... really weird just how much this girl looks like Rise, and how thrown she seems by the year, too. What's that about? ]

It's 2015--almost 2016, really.

[stripsearch]

[And suddenly, understanding and a bit of relief that she hasn't gone crazy.

Rise laughs, a soft little giggle.] That'd explain it. You know, there are people from the future here-- like, the year 3000 or whatever-- but I never thought I'd meet someone from five years in the future. Last I knew, it was 2011.

[She straightens up, then leans forward, her hands clasped behind the small of her back, her demeanor playful and a little coquettish.

This girl is a performer.] Glad to hear the comeback went well, at least!

I'm Rise. Nice to meetcha~

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Oh my god, you are her! I thought I was going crazy for a second, there!

[ Ann laughs, scratching the back of her neck sheepishly. What are the odds of meeting a celebrity like this? Not that fame is a huge deal to her, given that she and her parents have their own share of it, but Rise Kujikawa is a genuine idol. It's impressive. ]

I'm Ann. It's nice to meet you, too. I won't give you any more future spoilers, okay?

[stripsearch]

Haha, sorry about that! [She smiles, and there's the slightest tinge of sheepishness to it.] Not that you seemed like a creep or anything... just kinda force of habit when you're in show biz, you know?

In my defense, I didn't lie or anything. I do look like Rise Kujikawa~

[She rocks back on the balls of her feet to her heels.] I dunno, I don't think anyone'd mind hearing that they're still popular in half a decade, right?

...I kinda wanna ask you more.

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You don't have to apologize! I totally get it. I hope I didn't freak you out!

You're right, though, about still being popular. It's nice to know things are still working out. I wish I could say the same thing. So... if you want, I can tell you a few things, but not too much. My knowledge of your life isn't exactly encyclopedic.

[ Ann laughs again, more or less done picking fruit for the moment. The greenhouse will still be here later. ]

[stripsearch]

Nope! I'd say I'm used to it, but... honestly, since I came here, nobody's recognized me at all. This is honestly a really nice change of pace. [She says, straightening up.] I'll think about what I might wanna know and ask you if anything comes to mind, at least?

--oh, you said something like "Risette phase," right? Does that mean I'm not using that name anymore?

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[ Look, Ann is a simple girl, okay? She doesn't really know much about sci-fi stuff like time paradoxes outside of what she's seen in movies, but she knows it's not a great idea to super spill the future beans, right?

Even so, she knows she'd be curious about her own future life. Fortunately, or unfortunately, Ann really doesn't know a ton about Rise's life in the future--just things about her music. The idol has been good about keeping her private life under wraps. ]

I guess it's nice getting recognized, isn't it? Sometimes people recognize me from my photoshoots, but not all that often.

[ Not that this is about her, but even her small modicum of fame is enough to help her understand Rise's position. She nods in response to the question, though, figuring this one would be safe to answer. ]

No, by my time you're just Rise Kujikawa. You quit being Risette after your hiatus.

@A.Kurusu

[jokey]

Ann. I need to talk to you.

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[ A few minutes pass before... ]

Okay. What about?

[ As if she couldn't guess. ]

[jokey]

About the other day.

[About several weeks ago. forward-dating is magic]

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Oh, you mean when you said I was being irrational? That other day?

[jokey]

Yeah. That's the one.

[GOD]

I regret it.

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I'm listening.

[jokey]

I said a lot of things I shouldn't have. Things I'd take back if I could, but the damage is done. I can't take any of it back now.

Can I call you?

[Several minutes later–]

I need to hear your voice.

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[ Ann would honestly have to be a pretty cold person to ignore that kind of plea. Hurt as she was--and still is--by his words, she's willing to mend that bridge. He reached out, and that takes guts after saying what he had.

But there's still one thing she needs to hear. ]

Say you're sorry, and then you can call.

[ Because "I regret" and "I'm sorry" aren't quite the same thing, are they? Similar feelings, similar sentiments, but one is an apology and the other isn't. ]

[jokey]

[And cheapen the value of I'm sorry with something as dispassionate as a text message? No. Allow Akira this final act of audaciousness.]

I refuse. Answer my call and I'll speak the words aloud.

[Ring ring.]

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[ Sighing, she lets it ring a few times before she lets the call come through. ]

Hello?

[ Akira might also hear a trilling, squeaky noise. Ann has one of the little dragons with her. ]

[jokey]

[Ah, the old "three rings" rule. Wouldn't want to sound eager to talk to him, would she? Akira clears his throat and sits himself up straight on the other end of the line while he waits for her to pick up.]

I'm sorry, Ann. I'm sorry for lying to you. I'm sorry for saying things I didn't mean to say. I'm sorry for hurting your feelings.

[HUFF, HUFF. But wait, there's more! A beat–]

I'm sorry I'm not Ren.

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I... I accept your apology. But one of those things isn't something you have to be sorry for, dummy. Your name isn't Ren, but... you're the same, aren't you? Your heart is the same as his, right?

Except for... well...