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

[seasharp]

What?!

[excuse]

You can't be serious, can you?

[alcahest]

[ she wavers a little in the face of conflict, but. she's set on this thought. ]

Don't you think that... she's scared because this is everything she has? She doesn't want us to take it away.

[seasharp]

Maybe she doesn't even deserve it in the first place! Not when she's like that... You heard her, didn't you?

[alcahest]

[ why does that hurt so much? she has the capacity to feel that, and not enough to understand the feeling. it's an awful thing. ]

... Does that mean she should disappear?

[seasharp]

I'm... I'm not saying that [yet], but...

I don't think there's any future for us as allies.

[alcahest]

But—

[ but you haven't even tried to understand her. but does that mean we have to be enemies? but what happens to Esme, then? ]

... Is it... really impossible?

[seasharp]

...Probably, yeah.

[She doesn't see a way for Esme to turn this around.]

Why do you want her around so much?

[alcahest]

It's not about wanting her around, really... I just don't want her to be alone.

[ it doesn't matter who she is, or what she's done. ]

[seasharp]

...I'm not going to accept her being part of the group.

[alcahest]

That's okay.

... But I'd stay with her. Even if nobody else wanted to be around her... if she's willing to come with us, I'll be with her. Even if it's just me.

[seasharp]

...Do whatever you want.

[Mona's not her problem.]

[daughterofthemark]

It must have been some time since she had to think of anyone but herself. I'm certain this is not all she is.

[seasharp]

So she just gets a free pass, because she's been on her own?

She just gets to act like this?

[discutio]

Do you think it right to instead refuse to extend sympathy, particularly to one who has clearly gone without it?

[seasharp]

I don't owe her sympathy. Or anything else. The way that girl was talking...

[...it really pisses her off.]

[discutio]

If she's been essentially alone here for however long, it stands to reason that she would seek the approval of an entire layer. And it then follows that she would fear losing it.

You don't owe her anything. But it doesn't cost you anything to be understanding of that much, or willing to hear out her actual reasoning.

[seasharp]

...I'll let her talk.

But if she tries to start something, I'm not going to stop and try to be understanding.

[discutio]

If she does prove to be an enemy with no chance of cooperation, then we will handle it. Until then, she deserves no less a chance than any of us have granted to one another.

[alcahest]

[ in a very small voice: ]

... Thank you, Phoenix.

[discutio]

It's nothing--I just think it cruel not to at least seek to understand her perspective before taking action.