[WORLD TWO | THE OTHER HALF]

[spellbindmods]

Who: Others not on the list of the Chosen 12
Where: Around Shehui
When:
Open/Closed: Open to All, though top levels shouldn't be made by Chosen 12 members -- however, direct telepathy links can be sent to Chosen 12 members, and Chosen 12 members can respond to open telepathy prompts. This post is meant more for those who aren't part of the Chosen 12 so they can react with others or plot their next move.

[ While your name isn't on the list that has been circulating, it doesn't mean that you're unaffected by this issue. Did someone you know -- someone you have a fondness for, perhaps? -- wind up on that list? And did they manage to evade the monitors or have they been captured?

You may have the resources to do something about it, or you may want to stay out of harm's way. Either way, changes are on the horizon -- and that horizon is now looming closer than ever before. ]

Comments

[heartholder]

I... I don't...

[ chika's hand curls around the sleeve of dia's shirt. ]

I don't know. I should know, but I don't.

[ her voice is very small. too small. she's their leader. she should know. but here, she's completely powerless. ]

But taking you instead wouldn't have solved anything! Do you realize how worried Ruby-chan would be? How scared she'd be? She'd be no better off if her big sister went missing, instead. You can't think like that.

[idolpedia]

I know I can't, Chika-san.

[But older sisters think like that. Older sisters want to take all of the pain and sadness from their younger sisters. Chika is the younger sister in her family. Perhaps her older sisters think like this too?]

But what can we do, Chika-san? There isn't anything we can do to help them! To help Ruby.

[heartholder]

We'll... We'll think of something! We just need to put our heads together and...

And...

[ chika averts her gaze, hiding a forlorn look from dia. she doesn't know. she just doesn't know, she doesn't have an answer for her. not a single one. ]

[idolpedia]

[Well, at this point? Dia is going to step forward and put her arms around Chika. It's sad. It's horrible. Whatever is happening is so unfair. Dia is frustrated.]

I don't really have an answer either.

[heartholder]

[ chika is trembling, and she's so ashamed, she shouldn't be acting like this, she's supposed to be their leader— ]

I'm sorry, Dia-san. I'm so sorry...

[idolpedia]

It's not your fault.

[It makes Dia hold Chika a little tighter. She won't fail Chika like she's failed her sister.]

I'm afraid.

[heartholder]

I know it isn't, but still...

[ chika clings to dia like a lifeline. ]

We won't let anything happen to Ruby-chan. We won't.

[ they might be empty words, but she still means them. she means them with all her heart, with everything she has. ]

[idolpedia]

[This is probably the first time that Dia is held onto Chika this long. It's almost like Dia will lose her too if she lets go. And for that matter... where is Riko? Not seeing Riko is giving her sort of a small panic.]

I know she is with capable people, I'm just scared.

[She takes a breath.]

Have you seen Riko-san today?

[heartholder]

[ chika might be the leader of aqours, but dia is still her senpai. she's older and wiser, and she can be strict at times, but she has one of the biggest hearts chika knows.

chika pulls back to swipe at her eyes with an arm before meeting dia's gaze. ]

I haven't. We should get in contact with her as soon as possible.

I know you're scared. So am I. But we won't let that stop us. I'm sure Riko-chan will help, too.

[idolpedia]

I'm going to sign myself up to go on the rescue mission. I know... it sounds reckless. But I can't just stand by while this is happening to Ruby. She doesn't deserve this.

[She's grateful now that Chika has been allowing her to hold onto her like a lifeline or she might have already run off without really thinking things through. This is what people do when they panic, right?]

Where do you think she might be?

[heartholder]

[ there's a beat of silence before chika replies. she can't say she won't worry about dia, but... if it were her sister, she'd go, too. there's no way she wouldn't. she knows how strong the bond between dia and ruby is. ]

I understand. I'll support you with everything I have, Dia-san.

I'm not sure, but I'll get a hold of her, okay? Don't worry about a thing. Focus on Ruby-chan. I'll take care of the rest.

[idolpedia]

We should stay together for now.

[Dia is still worried, panicked that if she lets Chika out of her sight that she might get arrested too. Ruby didn't do anything to get arrested so what reason would they have to take anyone else.]

The connection is still static ridden.

[heartholder]

All right. We'll stay together.

[ chika nods. ]

I'll keep trying to get in touch with her; I won't stop until I do. Promise.

[idolpedia]

Thank you, Chika-san. You are more help than you realize right now.

[Dia tries to offer Chika a smile, though right now? It's hard.]