Rika Tells All: What's Hot! Exclusive Interview

Transcription from the live interview aired on TTB on 25.06.253 at 13CET.

Ko-Larfjen Mistiil. I'm Ko-Larfjen Mistiil coming to you live from the What's Hot studio today, with TTB's own Rika Arabella, the mind behind Honey, Honey who stole Esmir's heart with her half-lute in 236 at the age of just ten years old. Today, she's debuting her newest album Ellipses as part of Freida Gelsey's Intimations World Tour. Thanks so much for joining me today, Rika.

Rika Arabella. I'm glad to be here, Ko-Larfjen.

Mistiil. Followers of the tour will know that you gave us quite a scare two weeks ago when you vanished from Lilliver. We're so glad to have you back safe and sound.

Arabella. Yeah... it was crazy.

Mistiil. Now, I know there isn't too much you can say about those days away since the investigation is still ongoing, but what can you tell us about what happened?

Arabella. I guess... I mean, it was so much, I don't even know where to begin.

Mistiil. We all know there was a power outage, and we all know you never checked into your AirDND... and then, you called from an untraceable phone line two days later, and then you showed up unannounced with a dramatic re-entrance on your birthday, just hours before your next show.

Arabella. Yep... that's about right.

Mistiil. What can you tell us about that phone call? How did you get your hands on a phone?

Arabella. They let me. They said if I called someone and let them know I was safe, maybe the Kantuk would stop looking.

Mistiil. What made you choose to call Freida Gelsey?

Arabella. Well, I knew she was worried.

Mistiil. A lot of people are wondering why you didn't call your dad, after he held that public plea for your release.

Arabella. Well, of course I wanted to call him, I just thought, you know, I left Freida hanging. And I didn't know anything about his press conference until after I got back.

Mistiil. How did you get away?

Arabella. Well, they just weren't very good at keeping people captive, I guess, because they left me tied up but like, not well, so I could get out. And then the window was unlocked, and it was a high window, but I was able to climb down, and they like, just never saw me.

Mistiil. How long were you trapped there before you escaped?

Arabella. Two days.

Mistiil. So you got away the same day that you called Freida?

Arabella. Yeah.

Mistiil. Why didn't you make contact with her?

Arabella. I was scared to use a phone. Honestly, I was scared to stop moving. And the boat part was like, really scary. I didn't even know where I was or where I was going. I kind of just... sailed.

Mistiil. How did you make it through all the monsters that have been ravaging the seas?

Arabella. Yeah, honestly, just every time I saw one I just sped up or like, cast a spell at them.

Mistiil. How miraculous that you made it unscathed. How did you know how to drive a boat?

Arabella. I sort of just... figured it out, I guess. All I needed to get away from the island was knowing how to go. I figured out the rest as I went along.

Mistiil. That's just incredible.

Arabella. Yeah.

Mistiil. What was the moment that made you feel, "Wow, I'm really free?"

Arabella. Probably on the ferry to Galena. I felt really uncomfortable going back to Lilliver after what happened, but I was able to disguise myself between trains, and I avoided using magic, so there was just no way anyone could track me. Once I made it through Lilliver and got far enough out into the water that I couldn't see it anymore... I knew I was really out, and on my way back to the tour.

Mistiil. What was the first thing you did when you knew you were free?

Arabella. Well, I called my dad, as soon as I could get to a phone. I felt bad that I used my only phone call they gave me to call Freida. It was just heat of the moment, I guess. I got taken from the tour, so I was still thinking about the tour, you know?

Mistiil. I completely understand.

Arabella. And Dad was so chill about it, like, he totally understood.

Mistiil. That's sweet.

Arabella. Yeah.

Mistiil. Now, I think I speak for everyone when I say this, but what happened at that show in Shelette?

Arabella. Gods, what a wild night. It was a little traumatic, honestly.

Mistiil. I'm so sorry to hear that.

Arabella. I just didn't expect them to have so many accomplices.

Mistiil. For the folks at home who missed the VIP panel earlier, tell us again about your theory about the person who crashed your concert.

Arabella. I mean, I'm pretty sure it's true and not a theory, but okay. I never saw the face of the person who grabbed me, and like, it was obviously some obsessed fan who wanted to do weird sex things, right? So when I broke out, they would have probably already had my tour schedule memorized, so like, they just went there, and I'm sure they knew my security would be increased too much for them to take me again, so like, they just wanted to get back at me.

Mistiil. For escaping?

Arabella. Yeah, and like, they're obviously really jealous of me, too, because why else would they try to impersonate me like that?

Mistiil. You told me earlier you had proof that's who it was.

Arabella. Yeah, so they stole all my stuff, right? I had the half-lute I was touring with on me when I got kidnapped, and like, the imposter had it when they crashed the concert. I saw it.

Mistiil. So, to sum up, you're saying that after you escaped, they rounded up some friends to act like their new security, and then instead of trying to take you again, they tried to just take your place?

Arabella. It seems pretty obvious, to me. And we know their magical imprint test results came back weird, we just don't know how.

Mistiil. Yes, it's just tragic, what happened to Dr. Clarke. Our hearts go out to his family.

Arabella. Yeah, mine too. I didn't see that one coming, at all.

Mistiil. Do you think it's connected?

Arabella. The tape of Dr. Clarke's death and the tape of the imposter's magical imprint test were the only ones that were wiped. I think they broke in to try and steal the magical imprint results, they just didn't know they'd already been sent off, so they just erased themself from the security tapes.

Mistiil. I see. How do you feel now, knowing this person is still out there?

Arabella. Well, honestly, I got away once. I know I could get away again. But that's even if they could get close enough to me again to try anything. I'm not even allowed to talk about how much our security has expanded, except to say, like, anyone who tries anything isn't going to get very far. We also had to ban any illusion based cosplay, which is sad, because it's always so cool to see what people come up with. But I'm excited to see how creative my fans get with their fits.

Mistiil. Well, Rika, we're all so happy that you're safe and sound, and we look forward to seeing the rest of your tour. Thank you so much, again, for joining me, today.

Arabella. Thank you for the opportunity. I'm glad I was able to share what I can.