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

[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?

[discutio]

That's a good question.

[.......]

[it sure is!]

[cancrymods]

Do you have a good answer? Or should I start making guesses?

[discutio]

Well, if you're to insist on being an adversarial child about the matter, I don't see any reason to disclose details.

[cancrymods]

Ohh, touchy touchy. ❤ You should learn how to take a joke, sweetie. Nobody likes guys with no sense of humor.

[ She leans to the side again and calls out to the group still in the line. ]

You might as well all come up now, you know. Your cover's been seriously blown since basically hour zero.

[discutio]

I wasn't aware we had cover, so I wouldn't be too confident about seeing through it if I were you.

['-bitch,']

[schardynfreude]

[A touch to Phoenix's shoulder. And a smile to Esme. It's small, a little flat, but it isn't outright hostile.]

Might as well, then. I believe what we're trying to accomplish here is to see what's going on and why.

And if you're as awake as we are, then you've surely felt how wrong everything is.

[crosscutting]

You sure you want me to come up there?

[Genuinely about two seconds from summoning her weapon--]

[cancrymods]

I've dealt with a whole lot crazier than you, honey.

[twibeast]

[ DEEP SIGH, okay he's coming. ]

To answer your question of why we came: in all honesty? A bit of curiosity more than anything. At least on my end.

[ Well and also he figured the kids would be all up on this but ]

We all found each other as we awoke, but we have not seen someone like yourself. [ except Rei but like. he's not going to give over that information. ]

[cancrymods]

Really? I'm not all that different from you guys, though. ❤

[ apart from being a weird megaceleb quasi cult leader, but who's counting? ]

[seasharp]

...What's your deal, anyway? So far it seems to be just being awful.

[cancrymods]

Do you have any idea what it's like having to be nice to people all the time?

It's awful.

[ ... that's it. That's her entire justification. ]

[daughterofthemark]

[Arianna technically hasn't been addressed here, but she reacts anyway.]

We had little cover to begin with.

[:D :D :D]

[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!]