Month 2: Enter the Meme King

[thequestgiver]

In a secluded, shadowy, disused location, the select few of a newly formed organization come to meet.... What dark and--

"Oh for gods sake, do you have to narrate every damned time?"

"Look, I'm trying to build the atmosphere here! How are we to be proper about this if we don't even go that far?"

"Who cares about being proper!" a third figure, noticeably smaller than the first interrupted. "I wanna know who's gonna be fighting this week!"

"Ug, seriously? We don't even have everyone here yet!"

"So???"

"He does have a point, you know..."

"Oh, don't you start too."

"Hey, I'm just saying..."

"Fight! Fight! Fight!"

"All right, all right! Eesh! Make your report already!"

There was the distinct sound of glasses being adjusted, a glint of light reflecting in the darkened room. "Currently over 25 individuals of note have been recorded. Not all of them are of significance, however, as a few... supporting individuals seem to have been connected as well. Of these, the Rider franchise seems to be the most represented, with Ultraman coming in second. More research is needed to determine how to create connections in a more targeted way before phase two of our operation can begin."

"And I can fight them!!" the younger voice piped in excitedly.

A deep sigh from the glassed figure answered. "After they fight each other first," he corrected. "We've been over this..."

"Ha! You just think they need to be softened up first, don't you?! Don't you believe in my power??!"

"... don't make me answer that."

"Hey!!"

"And that's enough of that, I'd think... Fade to black, everybody!"

"...drama queen."

---

Any Displaced individual prone to visions, premonitions or other plot sensing type skills may have had a variation on the above scene in a dream, vision or just felt like someone was watching them. Even those without a plot speaking skill may start getting a strange feeling of being watched when they're out in public....

Not that it will be foremost on their mind very long, as suddenly, every single TV screen or similar nearby flashes white, before a short clip begins to play:

Comments

[godlytalents]

"REJOICE!" says the confident-looking man lounging in his rolling chair, "for I, Shin Kuroto Dan, have come to announce an exciting and absolutely brilliant game concept!"

The screen shifts, revealing a game's splash screen.

"KAMEN RIDER CHRONICLE!" Okay yes maybe he's had a few issues with his unbeatable best killer video game ever, but wait, there's more. "Now reworked to be one hundred percent better, more challenging, and with exciting new DLC!" A little "DLC" graphic attaches itself to the bottom of the logo. "Featuring new friends! New foes! New worlds! And surprise mechanics designed to provide the player with a sense of pride and accomplishment!"

Don't mind the laugh that accompanies this, it's perfectly sane. "Look out for it, in stores now!"

And with that, the video ends.

[powertotearer]

There is probably only correct response to an announcement like this:

"...What?"

Eiji stares at his phone screen, still in complete disbelief.

Really, what else is there to say?

[fiveinzero]

Rei and co's prior meeting with Eiji had been brief, full of confusion, and ended with a quick escape led by the more reserved members of the group once they realised the person they had thought was Tomoki was in fact a total stranger. And they are just about to ignore said stranger as they happen across him again, except that Eiji happens to be looking at this announcement about a video game in easy view, and one of their ears perk.

He closes the distance with a bounce, blithely snatching the phone from Eiji's grip in the hopes of getting more information--

"Hey, hey, what was that about a video game?"

--but unfortunately the announcement is already over.

[powertotearer]

There had been a brief moment, some days ago, where Eiji thought he'd heard Ankh yelling at him. But when he turned around, no one was there. It had been just as well, of course. He was probably imagining things, and it was better that nobody saw him acting weird.

But now there's someone right in his personal space, taking his phone, and Eiji has to see it.

The hair is wrong. The voice is too young and high-pitched. And there's a part of his mind saying that he's still messed up from having to say goodbye again, so he's probably seeing and hearing something that isn't real.

But it slips, and he whispers, "Ankh?"

[fiveinzero]

He blinks and looks over at the-guy-who-is-actually-not-Tomoki, then cocks his head to one side.

"What's that? Part of the DLC?"

[powertotearer]

No, that's definitely not him. It still way too close and hurts, though.

He shakes his head. "Never mind."

[fiveinzero]

He looks disappointed for a second, and then something about his demeanor shifts to something less... bouncy.

There's a quiet mutter under his breath of, "We should give him his phone back now," before he in fact holds the phone out to the man who really does look remarkably like Tomoki, and says much more clearly, "Sorry about that."

[powertotearer]

That was very weird, and Eiji watches cautiously for a moment before taking his phone.

"No, it's okay."

[fiveinzero]

He seems calmer now, as well as a good bit more guarded. He's less inclined to leave this time, now that he's not surprised by the existence of someone who could practically be Tomoki's twin. And Yu had missed it, but a couple of the others were pretty sure they'd seen that look of confused recognition on the other man's face a moment ago, too.

"I'm Rei," he offers. "And you are...?"

[powertotearer]

Eiji at least gets a second to recover, and he answers, "Eiji Hino."

It's still very, very weird. Like he's talking to an entirely different person now.

[fiveinzero]

That's because he is, though Rei generally doesn't bother attempting to explain anything at first brush.

"Hino," he mutters softly. That much is oddly similar. But it seems this really is a different person. He gives a slight nod. "I'll remember it."

[powertotearer]

"Oh, okay."

It is one of the less smart things Eiji has said in his life, but in his defense, this whole thing is very confusing.

"This might sound weird, but you're not originally from this world, are you?"

[fiveinzero]

He shakes his head. "I assume you aren't, either, then?"

[triggerhappytraitor]

Tachibana was stopped at the intersection, waiting for the light to change when the announcement took over the screen.

And of course, the word "Kamen Rider" grabbed his attention and put a hell of a frown on his face.

He pulled over, lifting the visor of his helmet as he stared up at the video. "The hell?" he demanded, indignantly. Bad enough they were making a TV show of Kotaro's book, but a video game? Like hell Kotaro would have let them trivialize things like that!

[powertotearer]

Since his last surprise meeting with Rei, Eiji's been sitting, thinking about the announcement that played on literally every screen in the city. But unlike Tachibana, it wasn't the videogame itself or the fact that it was about Kamen Riders that got him wondering. It was one little credit on the splash screen.

"Genm Corp...why does that sound familiar?"

[triggerhappytraitor]

Tachibana glanced over before finally pulling off his helmet and dismounting from his bike, heading over the short distance, giving a small nod of acknowledgment to the young man he had spoken with before and never gotten the name of.

"Something you recognize?"

[powertotearer]

Eiji gave Tachibana a quick smile and a wave when he saw him, then goes back to checking his phone.

"Maybe. Something about it sounds familiar, and the logo seems weirdly like...deja vu, I guess. I'm trying to see if maybe someone saved the video and uploaded it online."

He looked over to Tachibana. "What do you think?"

[triggerhappytraitor]

"That it's a load of bullshit that someone's made a damned game using Kamen Riders," Tachibana returned, scowling up at the TV screen (that was now the usual generic talk-news-whatever show that always seemed to be playing on those things.) "No way in hell is that from my timeline, Kotaro promised we'd have final say over anything made from his book, damnit."

[powertotearer]

That was not exactly the reaction that Eiji was expecting. He stared at Tachibana in shock for a moment before laughing.

"Sorry. I'm not laughing at you, just...I think you just answered my question about how honest I can be with you."

[triggerhappytraitor]

Tachibana blinked a few times as Eiji laughed, looking... more confused than affronted, but still a bit miffed.

"...the hell is that supposed to mean?"

[powertotearer]

Eiji held out his hand. "Kamen Rider OOO."

That might explain things, right?

[triggerhappytraitor]

Tachibana blinked once more before accepting the hand. "Kamen Rider Garren, Sakuya Tachibana," he introduced, tone a bit formal despite his lingering agitation at the situation.

[powertotearer]

Eiji brightens up considerably. "Oh, so you're the Tachibana I was talking to on the message board! I'm Eiji, by the way."

[triggerhappytraitor]

One more moment of delayed blinking before Tachibana's posture relaxed, a faint hint of a smile finally reaching his expression as he made the connection. "That would be me, yeah," he nodded, far more relaxed.

[coffee_at_dawn]

"A new game? Hmm, a game that plays curiously interesting. What sort of prize shall we play today?" Wondered Juggler, leaning back as he nursed his coffee thoughtfully.

This should be very interesting. Time to bug everyone about this game.