MAN☆EATER'S IDEAL WORLD ★ SESSION 1

[idolpro]

When you close your eyes, bone-deep fatigue crashes over you like a wave—almost like it was just waiting to catch up to you the minute you stopped moving.

Within the darkness, you can just barely hear the echoes of distant voices, too faint to identify . . .

"Jealous of his normalcy? Maybe just a little."

"Man Eater is so scary! Man Eater is a killer! It's all very alarming but. . .that's all there is, isn't it?

Neeheehee, brutish as you may be, someone like you will never be more than that. You'll kill, and you'll die. Over and over, until it's permanent some day."

"And you're the same... Hitoshiki! The truth is you're just a serial killer who's only good for killing—so why are you going to school like some normal kid?! Leading a dual life when you don't even have a dual personality—it's not fair! Why only you?! It's not fair!"

"It's better not to fight, sometimes. I feel kind of sorry for you..."

"So what it comes down to is this. Would you rather stay what you are, or be happy?"

Gradually, those voices blend into the hum of a bustling crowd... naturally enough to make you wonder if perhaps you were just hearing things, after all.

INFO & RULES | START HERE

Comments

[carnivorouscarnival]

"Like you'd miss an opportunity to be an ass," he quips, tone just a hint lighter. "Just go ahead and say it."

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

Shouldn't you have been able to steal a kiss from your rival if this had been a perfect world?

Have you gone that soft? For shame.

[carnivorouscarnival]

He scoffs.

"I've already taken everything wanted from his lips and more. It's not fun if he doesn't have a little fight in him."

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

Then on a more serious note, why would you allow Mr. Fox here in the first place?

[carnivorouscarnival]

"... This is a dream world, remember? It's not like he's the real person. He's just a concept."

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

One that's still hanging over your head. And also one that I couldn't even steal a book from.

[carnivorouscarnival]

"Concept or no, he's still playing the role as himself. He's going to show up here as I remember him."

He shrugs, maybe with a hint of discomfort.

"You're misunderstanding something, though. He wasn't the one pulling my strings—not here. It's the other way around. For once, I was the one using him for my own purposes."

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

. . .

Certainly, you don't intend for you orchestrating the murder of the two most important people in your life to be reassuring.

[carnivorouscarnival]

"They're not in my life—that's the point. This isn't reality, and it won't ever be reality."

His mouth curves in a smile that doesn't reach his eyes.

"Is it that surprising? That rather than letting myself indulge in an idyllic, easygoing fantasy, part of me would rather just destroy it all. No looking back."

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

This boring sham of a Pinocchio life won't ever be your reality.

But that doesn't mean those two won't be. Don't fold before you've drawn your final card, Izumu.

[carnivorouscarnival]

"... What are you talking about? Rizumu's gone. And Zerozaki Hitoshiki is—that's over. If it was ever really anything to begin with."

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

Just because she's not here doesn't means she's not anywhere.

[carnivorouscarnival]

"She's dead, remember?! Long before we got here!"

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

Yeah. And so was King before we got here.

Your point?!

[carnivorouscarnival]

He makes a frustrated noise.

"It's all—complicated, okay?! And I don't know if it's even a real possibility!"

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

It is because I say it is. All the power of Hell right at our fingertips, surely we can use it to find one lost soul.

Otherwise, there are even bigger problems in the multiverse at play than shitty management.

[carnivorouscarnival]

His shoulders sag as all the tension drains from his body at once.

"... We're still a long ways off from having any of the power of Hell at our fingertips."

But from the tone, it doesn't sound like an argument, exactly.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[His other hand reaches up to cup the base of Izumu's skull and pull him so their face to face.]

True. But I'm not going to give up. Ever.

So just sit back and enjoy the show. I'm going to put on a real production.

[carnivorouscarnival]

He lifts his chin slightly, so he can look Intensity directly in the eyes. And for the first time so far, a real smile spreads over his features.

"... Gyaha. Now that you've set my expectations high, you'd better."

1/3

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

I never disappoint.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[And he tightens his grip so he can pull Izumu up and into a quick kiss.

(Take that, fucking Hitoshiki!)]

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

You can wake up now, Sleeping Beauty.

[carnivorouscarnival]

When Intensity pulls back, his smile is just a little brighter.

"Well. If true love's kiss doesn't do the trick, I guess nothing will."

He reaches for Intensity's hand.

In the distance, the school gates are open and visible where they weren't before.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

Don't get too sappy on me.

[But yes.

Let's leave this dumb school. Laces their fingers together and tugs Izumu alongside him]

[carnivorouscarnival]

He leans against Intensity as they walk.

"You brought it on yourself."

As they approach, a bright light pours in through the open gates, ready to envelop them both.