DAY ???

[cascadingfailure]

[ Once upon a time, two heroes were having a very fun time in the city.

Okay, maybe it wasn't particularly fun. Maybe it was a normal time. Just two guys hanging out, doing whatever an ancient timeloop bound phantom thief and an ancient reincarnating demigod do in their spare time, you know?

But this day was unlike any other, because on this day said demigod finds himself consumed, and by consumed I mean there's a sudden swirl of wind around Eclipse, kicking up dust like a very small tornado. A very small starts to slowly peel away at his colour, pulling them away like yarn that dissolves into thin air. And at the same time, he begins to fade…

Mars, on the other hand, is completely fine! So that's nice. ]

Comments

[cascadingfailure]

[ fairy is waiting right outside. ]

Warden! Spring Born Wind! You are not authorized to enter that room!

[foolmetwice]

[shuts the door in fairy's face]

God damn it.

[inspiteful]

...Kind of makes you wonder why she hasn't tried to come in.

[foolmetwice]

[. . .]

[opens the door again to address fairy]

Are you seriously just waiting for us to come out? What if we decide to live in here now?

[cascadingfailure]

This program is not a volunteer, and therefore cannot access that room except in emergencies. However, however, however! This program also cannot allow you to roam free unattended! And you can't live in there, because Warden of Heart Soldier Senshi is not someone who hides away in a locker room when presented with a friend undergoing image failure. He isn't, he isn't!

Any attempt to stay where you are would only result in both of you losing yourselves. We are very sorry for the inconvenience, but please understand that this is how this place works.

[inspiteful]

[ From somewhere behind Mars: ]

Okay, so how do we both get back without losing ourselves?

[foolmetwice]

. . .

[why is she calling him out like this!!!]

I'll give you a cool glowstick if you send us back.

[bribery]

[cascadingfailure]

...

This program does not have a physical body and cannot hold a glowstick. This program also continues to not be able to send those undergoing image failure anywhere. Warden, of course, must be sent back as soon as possible, and will be once his absence has been noted and filed. But Spring Born Wind will not go anywhere until his image stabilizes, and there is no guarantee that will be back to Tokyo-F.

Warden, you said before that you don't care what the fans think. As true as that may be, they are the reason you are you. What they see of you changes what they think of you, and what they think of you is what you are. And if they don't think of you, then you aren't at all!

Remember, remember, remember! Everything that happens, happens because of you! Who you are and who you become depends on what you make those who see you believe!

[inspiteful]

Wait wait, so how can I 'stabilise my image'?

[foolmetwice]

. . .

[he hates this he hates this he hates this he hates this—]

[because it's true. and he knows that, as someone who was once transferred before himself]

[his gaze narrows but he says nothing and waits instead for Eclipse's question to be answered]

[cascadingfailure]

Ehhh...well, it depends on the audience's opinion of you, of course. This program really could've just told you all this in the first place if you didn't run off, you know!

If this program's extrapolations are correct, your situation is not so extreme that you've lost your fanbase. Spring Born Wind is still popular enough, even if Spring Born Wind of Heart Soldier Senshi is no longer of interest to them. This program is sure someone will eventually produce some popular work or otherwise spark some conversation that puts you under a different spotlight, but a spotlight nonetheless.

[inspiteful]

[ Well that confirmed some suspicions he had. None of which he's liking.

...He looks down for a moment, before he looks back up. ]

So it has to be a 'different spotlight'?

[foolmetwice]

[what]

[. . . immediately bristles at the implications here, gaze darting from Eclipse and back again]

He's Eclipse of Heart Soldier Senshi. The fanbase can't take that from him.

You can't take that from him.

[nevermind that both can, but, u know]

[cascadingfailure]

Please direct all complaints to...

...

Actually, this program isn't sure what department handles complaints about the world being unfair. It would lodge a complaint about its own programming if it did.

[inspiteful]

[ Welp, in that sense that's...nothing new... ]

Uncofrtunately, I don't think I can really wait for the fans to put a spotlight on me.

[foolmetwice]

[. . .]

[shuts the door in the fairy's face again, pressing his back against it as he inhales sharply, raking his fingers through his hair]

[. . .]

You understand what I'm saying, right Eclipse? That no matter what some stupid fans think of your or what this stupid fairy is saying-- you are an important member of Heart, right?

[inspiteful]

I mean, I get what you're saying, it's just...

Even when you say that, it doesn't exactly change the fact that the fans are the ones my whole existence depends on right now.

[foolmetwice]

[his hands curl into fists, and he opens his mouth as though to argue against that-- but. . .]

[. . .]







[in the end he just drags Eclipse into a very tight hug]

[inspiteful]

[ He hugs Mars back just as tight. ]

...Even if I go back, I don't think it'd be as someone on Heart Soldier Senshi.

[foolmetwice]

[clings a little more tightly]

Stupid.

You're always gonna be a member of Heart. Always.

[inspiteful]

Haha, I think only a few of you might feel that way.

[foolmetwice]

[no!!! . . . he thinks to himself, but all he does is draw back, hands resting against Eclipse's shoulders]

You are. That's not an opinion. It's a fact.

I don't care what color you're wearing. Nothing can change that.

[inspiteful]

Ask King or Hurricane or Hiryuu when you get back, then.

...But thank you.

[foolmetwice]

They'd say the same thing. I know they would.

[gives Eclipse's shoulders a very tight squeeze, but he looks a little less outwardly angry and more tiredly resigned. fuck this placeeeeee]

. . . what are you gonna do?

[inspiteful]

I don't want to be taken away or, uh, become one of the Damned. What she said seems to mean that I still have a chance of a comeback, just not as someone on Heart Soldier Senshi.

[ He walks over to the mannequin with the Alcheme uniform. ]

...But this might work.