cancry | meet and greet

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...

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh. Right. Apologies.

[ oops ]

He disappeared into thin air.

That makes more sense than what I was assuming, which was that she was merely standing there.

[ Sure that Rei will look after Autumn until she's attended to, Beast gets back up and heads to Veil's side to read the business card as well. He then turns to the rest of the group. ]

I presume we are all planning to go then?

Edited 2020-10-10 22:18 (UTC)

Well, obviously I've committed to it. If anyone's coming with me, I would prefer if we kept things less hostile; she clearly knows things we likely don't, and information is the most useful thing we can have right now.

I am also committed to it and shall come as well.

[ He is also pulling out his phone and is... trying his best to get to the messenger and type something... slowly.... ]

[ As he's doing that though

tug, tug

it's the feeling of Rei tugging discreetly on the hem of his sweater. ]

Hm?

[ He looks away from the phone ]

Yes, my darling?

... She said 'Eidolon'. When you two were talking.

Didn't she?

As I recall she did, yes.

Why?

How did she know what an Eidolon is? I had to explain it to all of you when you woke up in Limbo... but there's no Executors down here in Invidia, and she's never been to Limbo.

So how did she know?

Were you always the only Executor, Rei? Before us.

...

[ She looks a little uncomfortable, like she's not sure how to answer that question. ]

...Rei?

[ No Lady this time or any other title. Just Rei. ]

I...

[ Her voice wobbles and she grips her skirt in her hands to anchor herself, so tight the material scrunches up something awful. ]

Th–there used to be... somebody. A long, long time ago, there was someone else here with me, b–but I don't...

[ ...

Okay, he already could tell this was serious but now he is definitely shifting and getting down on one knee, putting himself at her eye level. ]

Take it slow and easy. Breath in and out, okay?

This is new information for me... you remember someone else?

[ She nods a little frantically. Distress seems to have rendered her mute for a moment, as if she doesn't trust her own voice to hold steady while she tries to answer. ]

But it wasn't her?

[She doesn't know what to do with this, but she folds her arms and frowns.]

...Rei. It was someone important, wasn't it?

I don't know!

[ The words burst out of her, along with a stream of tears, both beyond containing any longer. ]

I don't remember! I don't remember their face or their name or any of it! I just know they were there and know they're gone and I don't– I don't understand why they left!

(no subject)

twibeast - 2020-10-10 23:04 (UTC) - Expand

phantasmagorial - 2020-10-10 23:13 (UTC) - Expand

emberserker - 2020-10-10 23:16 (UTC) - Expand

daughterofthemark - 2020-10-10 23:19 (UTC) - Expand

twibeast - 2020-10-10 23:24 (UTC) - Expand

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twibeast - 2020-10-10 23:51 (UTC) - Expand

mementomoritz - 2020-10-11 02:42 (UTC) - Expand

[ He just... gently puts his hands on her shoulders and waits. ]

It doesn't have to be now. We can wait to hear more of this if you would prefer. Just take your time.

Someone else? Dame Rei?

[OH NO THE FRIEND IS SAD]

...A good question.

She knew what an Executor was as well. That also seems strange.

And she knew about the Cogs. She knew a lot more than she should if she really had just been here the whole time.

I guess... it's not completely out of the question that she could've learned for herself, somehow. But I couldn't find any books about Purgatory in the bookstores here. I was looking to see if there was any information about the city and there was nothing at all.

Is it possible she just took all the books?

Maybe? I don't imagine anybody would have stopped her if she tried. But why bother?

Y–yes, of course! I'm not letting everyone go alone!

[ y'all start getting ROWDY and STARTING FIGHTS!! ]