meet and greet

[cancrymods]

If you've been paying any attention to the screens around Invidia (and it's honestly harder NOT to pay attention to them than it is to actually do so) then you'll be familiar with Esme, the woman whose face graces every single screen. Some initial poking around has revealed that Esme is a sort of idol to the people of Invidia, whose enviously glamourous life has taken the city by storm but that's more or less all you've learned so far.

But it looks like you might have the opportunity to learn more sometime soon.

Just as the dark sky of Invidia gives way to what passes for daytime, all of the screens in Invidia light up with the same video – it's Esme, perched on what looks to be a fancy throne in the middle of a white void, nothing to distract from the glaringly insincere sincere smile on her face as she addresses the camera.

"Good morning, lovelies! ❤ I've been soooooo busy with work and filming lately, I haven't had even a single second to see any of you in person! And what's the point of all that hard work if I don't even get to see your smiling faces at the end of it? So today we're having a very special event! For this afternoon only, I'll be on the Starlight Stage on the roof of our mall, all ready to shake hands and sign things and see all of you lovelies face to face again! Make sure you hurry on down to see me, okay? Bye-bye-bye! ❤"

With a wave and a sickly sweet smile to the camera, Esme signs off.

Looks like you've been given an opportunity to do a little investigating...

Comments

[twibeast]

Oh-- not yet, but I shall keep it in mind, thank you.

[ Not even gonna comment on the joke because oof ]

[cancrymods]

Alright then! ❤ Promise me next time you come see me you'll let me know what you think. We can swap cake recommendations!

[discutio]

If you'd like, I can give you a cake recipe of my own. Surely you've the spare time for a brief moment in a kitchen, I find it an excellent way to relieve stress from being overworked.

[which is just a lot to say what in the hell do you do around here]

[cancrymods]

Oh, that'd be so sweet of you! Here, how about you write it down for me and I'll give it to my cook? I'd love to try it!

[ i hasten to clarify this is Esme forgetting that your boy is blind and not claire, your mod. ]

[discutio]

[this is the slow inhale of someone very patient]

Bit difficult, I'm afraid.

[cancrymods]

How come? You can't read, maybe?

[ Phoenix might not be able to see it, but anyone with a trained eye will see her smile's turned just a touch nasty. ]

[discutio]

[...Oh, hell no.]

[Phoenix's own smile turned very diplomatic and very fixed in place; he might not have seen it, but he knew enough to catch A Tone when he heard one.]

Oh, I'm quite literate on a good day. [...not technically a lie, considering he knows damn well he wasn't always blind.] Why, have you your own cook and yet no personal scribe on hand? How terrible.

[cancrymods]

[ Esme's eyebrows raise and her eyes glitter. ]

Today's their day off. It's a bad look if I have someone else signing things right in front of the fans, right?

[discutio]

Oh, of course. Though as someone relatively new to Invidia, as Veil mentioned--what is it you're so well known for? I'm terribly curious what others do for enjoyment in such a bustling city.

['WHAT IS THE POINT OF YOU']

[cancrymods]

Being famous, pretty much. It's like a snake eating its own tail. People love me because they love me. There's no real rhyme or reason to it. So long as I show them some sparklies on TV and show up now and again to playact like I'm happy to see them, it all works out just fine.

[ Her tone has changed – slid sideways, maybe. She sounds a little less composed and rehearsed. In fact, this is the first time since any of them has set foot in Invidia that she has sounded even remotely sincere. ]

Now I've got a question for you, sweetie. How long have you known?

[discutio]

Known what, if I might ask? I know several things, personally, not the least of which is an incredible cheesecake recipe.

[THE GIRLS ARE FIGHTINNNNGGGGG]

I do suggest you clarify such broad questions, else no one will know what you might mean.

[cancrymods]

That you're dead, of course.

Did you really think I hadn't noticed?

[discutio]

I think you would be incredibly foolish not to, all things considered, so I did in fact assume you noticed as much.

...Quite frankly, we're not a subtle group.

[cancrymods]

Literally the first thing that airhead says to me is "we just arrived in Invidia". No one 'arrives' here. Not unless you know what 'here' is.

[ Her bodyguard clears his throat again and Esme flaps an hand at him impatiently. He falls silent. ]

Cute cover story, though.

[discutio]

We also aren't much for thinking ahead.

But I might turn the same question upon you: how long have you been aware?

[cancrymods]

Long enough. Not that it really matters. Time's got a funny way about it down here.

It's definitely been a while since anybody woke up, though. In fact, I don't think I even remember it happening at all. And I've got a pretty good memory. More or less.

[ She laughs again. It's a lot less pretty this time. ]

[discutio]

Has it, now? I can't say that surprises me--time certainly is a difficult thing to measure. For my own part, I don't mind admitting it hasn't felt particularly long.

So tell me, if you would be so kind--what is it you seek to accomplish, if anything, past this charming empire you have?

[cancrymods]

Does it really need to be anything else? I'm on top of the world, doing what I love every single day and I have a whole city's worth of braindead fans who'd fistfight each other for the chance to lick my shoes if I told them to do it. Whoops! ❤ Just pretend you didn't hear me acting like such a meanie, okay sweetie?

Now how about you? You must've come here for some reason or another. I don't imagine waiting in lines is just that fun for you. And how did you even get down here to Invidia, anyway?

[seasharp]

[She's quiet for now, but Ariel is just... tensing up, at that. Staring at her.]

[crosscutting]

[Baby squad ready to FITE]

[daughterofthemark]

[Obliviously standing here!]

[twibeast]

[ UHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH yeah he caught that ]

...While we wait, mayhaps I can write it down if you tell me, Sir Phoenix?

[discutio]

Oh, certainly. It would be painfully rude of me to offer and then simply drop the matter.

[In a distinct tone of 'This Bitch,']

[you get one(1) brief overview of how to make Kupoberry Cheesecake.]

[twibeast]

[ Oh believe me, he gets it. His own demeanor has gotten noticeably colder because this bitch.

He is writing it down though and holy shit. What the fuck this sounds good.

In a hushed voice to Phoenix: ]

I simply MUST try this sometime...

[ And then it's done and he hands it to Phoenix for him to give when it's his turn or... whenever. ]

[discutio]

Remind me later, if we don't die again.